I am a victim of identity theft. The person who stole it has outstanding banking account balances in my name can these banks and credit unions garnish my federal income tax

No! You are the victim here, not the banks or credit unions.

Possibly. You should consult with an attorney. You should be able to sign some sort of affidavit stating that your identity had been stolen and that the resulting charges and balances were not contracted or authorized by you. An attorney can help you with this. That should relieve you of any liability and prevent any subjugation against you.

Agreed!

However, an attorney should NOT be needed if you file a police report and contact the banks and credit unions to discuss the problem.

Nongovernment agencies/companies can't garnish even your property or bank accounts without court order. About federal income tax refund, it is almost impossible for non government agencies/companies.

I disagree. It is not impossible (as I did it on a business debt), but it IS very difficult and rather time-consuming.

Can my refund be used to pay other debts?

Under the law, state and Federal agencies refer to the IRS the names of taxpayers who are behind in their support payments, taxes, and loans. Your tax refund may not be refunded to you if you are delinquent in child or child and spousal support payments, have a past due Federal debt (such as a student loan), or owe state income taxes. Therefore, your refund will be used to pay other debts you owe. For additional information, refer to Tax Topic 203, Failure to Pay Child Support and Other Federal Obligations.

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