OKESC Part 5: REMITTING PAYMENTS

Rory Littleton: Oklahoma Employer Services Center and Oklahoma Child Support Services bring you this video to answer questions you may have about remitting child support payments withheld from your employee’s wages.  

Amy Newton: First question - Where do employers send payments?  

All wage withholding for child support is processed through the Oklahoma Centralized Support Registry (OCSR).  The registry helps employers reduce expenses and paperwork by allowing them to send all payments to a single location.  The OCSR address is P.O. Box 268809 Oklahoma City, OK 73126-8809.  

Rory Littleton: Next - How do I know if I should follow the order to withhold?  

Remember that all notice order to withhold income for child support must be honored if they appear to be a valid legal document.  

Amy Newton: Even if your employee tells you he or she is making payments, you as the employer are obligated to follow the notice order to withhold income for child support.  If your employee has any questions, ask him or her to call Oklahoma Child Support Services at 405-522-2273 in the Oklahoma City area, or 1-800-522-2922 state-wide.  

Rory Littleton: Let’s answer this - What if I receive a notice or order from another system?  

If you receive a notice order to withhold income for child support from an Oklahoma entity and it directs you to send payments to an address other than the Oklahoma Centralized Support Registry, you must file a Data Registry Sheet with OCSR.  An account will be set up for you and that employee and you can then start payments through this system.  By law, you cannot send payments to a private party.  Again, if you have any questions, please call 1-866-553-2368.  

Next: Are there any other kinds of child support cases for which I need to withhold?  

You may also be remitting payments for an IV-D child support case.  It is a case in which someone is receiving child support services from the state’s child support program.  All IV-D child support payments are also made through the Centralized Support Registry.  

Amy Newton: Do I need to send a separate check for each case?  

Employers may combine all payments, both IV-D and non-IV-D, and send in one check, unless you’ve signed up for Electronic Funds Transfer, to the Oklahoma Centralized Support Registry.  Attach the detailed break-down of the payer information that equals the amount of the check.  The break-down should be provided for each employee who has child support included in the check.  

Rory Littleton: What other information do I need to include with the payment? 
 
Please include the following information with the payment:  employee or payer’s first and last name, payer’s Social Security Number, Family Group Number (FGN), if your payroll system accommodates this information.  

Amy Newton: How do I submit payments?  

You may submit payments by check or money order, payable to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.  Mail payments to the Oklahoma Centralized Support Registry. 

No Audio: Mail Payments to Oklahoma Centralized Support Registry, P.O. Box 268809 Oklahoma City, OK, 73126-8809. 

Rory Littleton: Please view the video about Electronic Funds Transfer or Web Pay at OKESC.org and follow those instructions to pay electronically. Payments must be remitted within seven business days after child support has been withheld from the paycheck.  

Amy Newton: Here’s an important question - What if I make a payment in error?  

If you make a payment and then discover that you made the payment in error, for instance if the employee has quit, do not adjust your next payment to child support.  

Rory Littleton: Instead, please immediately request a refund from OKDHS Oklahoma Child Support Services through the district office or through OKESC.  

Amy Newton: If you adjust your next payment, you’re actually taking money away from another family because the first payment has already been issued.  

Rory Littleton: Next - What do I do if I send the wrong child support amount, or send in support of the wrong person?  

OCSS Policy states OCSS is not responsible for over-payment, under-payment, non-payment, misdirection of payment, or other distribution error caused by either incorrect payments or information submitted to OCSS or OCSS receiving no information or payment.  

Amy Newton: OCSS does not attempt to recover, redirect, forward, repay, or otherwise correct this type of error.  Meaning OCSS will not refund money that has been already distributed to a family.  OCSS is required by Federal Law to forward money automatically within 48 hours or less.  

Rory Littleton: What if an employer’s check is returned for Non-Sufficient Funds?  

If a check sent by an employer is returned for Non-Sufficient Funds, the employer can be placed on an NSF list.  If an employer has been placed on the NSF list, all future payments must be made via cashier’s check or money order until the employer is removed from the list which is typically after one year.  

Amy Newton: Next - Are there other situations in which employers can be placed on the NSF list?  

An employer will be placed on the NSF list if stop payment is placed on a check and the employer does not notify OCSS.  If an employer’s bank causes the employer to be put on the NSF list, the employer may submit a letter from their bank to be removed from the list.  

Rory Littleton: Also, if employers notify OCSS/OKESC of a pending problem with a payment in time to prevent harm to a family and will re-issue the bad check, the employer will not be put on the NSF list.  Replacement payments should be sent to: OCSS State Finance Return Payment Review  P.O. Box 53552 Oklahoma City, OK 73152. 

Amy Newton: Next - How does an employer get removed from the NSF list?  

The employer must make 12 consecutive monthly good payments.  The NSF list is based on the employer, not the bank.  Changing banks, or accounts, will not circumvent the NSF list.  Payment by personal check will still be refused.  

Rory Littleton: What happens if an employer refuses to remit payments while on the NSF list?  

The employer is required by law to follow the instructions on the notice order to withhold income for child support.  

Amy Newton: Failure to do so makes the employer liable for up to the accumulated amount that should have been withheld according to the income withholding notice, as well as fines and interest on the amount that should have been withheld.  

Rory Littleton: For more information, view our helpful videos at OKESC.org.  

Amy Newton: Or please contact one of our Employer Services Representatives toll-free at 1-866-553-2368, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.  

Rory Littleton: Let us know how we can help you.