---
kind: "section"
citation: "45 C.F.R. § 32.1"
title: "45"
number: "32.1"
heading: "Purpose and scope."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/45/32.1"
---

# §32.1. Purpose and scope.

- (a) **Purpose.** This part prescribes the standards and procedures for the Department to collect money from a debtor's disposable pay by means of administrative wage garnishment to satisfy delinquent non-tax debts owed to the United States.
- (b) **Authority.** These standards and procedures are authorized under the wage garnishment provisions of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, codified at [31 U.S.C. 3720D](/usc/31/3720D.md), and the Department of the Treasury Administrative Wage Garnishment Regulations at [31 CFR 285.11](/cfr/31/285.11.md).
- (c) **Scope.**
  - (1) This part applies to all Departmental Operating Divisions and Regional Offices that administer a program that gives rise to a delinquent non-tax debt owed to the United States and to all officers or employees of the Department authorized to collect such debt.
  - (2) This part shall apply notwithstanding any provision of State law.
  - (3) Nothing in this part precludes the compromise of a debt or the suspension or termination of collection action in accordance with [part 30 of this title](/cfr/45/part30.md), or other applicable law or regulation.
  - (4) The receipt of payments pursuant to this part does not preclude the Department from pursuing other debt collection remedies, including the offset of Federal payments to satisfy delinquent non-tax debt owed to the United States. The Department may pursue such debt collection remedies separately or in conjunction with administrative wage garnishment.
  - (5) This part does not apply to the collection of delinquent non-tax debts owed to the United States from the wages of Federal employees from their Federal employment. Federal pay is subject to the Federal salary offset procedures set forth in [5 U.S.C. 5514](/usc/5/5514.md) and other applicable laws.
  - (6) Nothing in this part requires the Department to duplicate notices or administrative proceedings required by contract or other laws or regulations.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3720D, 5 U.S.C. 552, 553, E.O. 12866, 12988, 13808.

### Source

Source: 68 FR 15093, Mar. 28, 2003, unless otherwise noted.