Governments of all sizes and locations are owed money. In the U.S. federal government, citizens and businesses typically owe taxes, fines and fees. Consumers can also owe on federally-backed student loans, while businesses can owe on development loans. Several branches of the U.S. government have robust ARM operations, including the IRS and the Department of Education. On the state and local level, debts to the government can be too many to enumerate. From court fines and fees to sales tax to late parking tickets. An overwhelming majority of U.S. states, and thousands of municipal governments, have used private debt collectors to help recover their debts.

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Reaction to IRS Debt Collection Initiative Announcement

12 September 2006

U.S. Debt Growing at Fastest Rate in 20 Years - Fed

12 September 2006

U.S. House Panel to Consider Data Security Bill

12 September 2006

Bernanke Identifies Need to Close Industrial Bank Loophole

12 September 2006

House Committee Approves Bill to Protect Phone Records and Wireless Numbers

12 September 2006

Appeals Court Rules Against Debt-Collection Lawyers

12 September 2006

Economic News: Payrolls Grow and Wholesale Inventories Remain Tight

12 September 2006

US House Clears Financial Regulatory Relief Bill

12 September 2006

State Attorney General Investigating Hospital Collection Practices

12 September 2006

IRS Selects Three Firms to Take Part in Delinquent Tax Collection Effort

12 September 2006

Freddie, Fannie Measure Included in Lobbying Reform Bill

12 September 2006

Judge Suspends County Law On Penalties for Predatory Lending

12 September 2006

Fed Comments: Slowdown in Housing Shouldn't Slow Consumer Spending

12 September 2006

Illinois House Passes Legislation Involving Hospital Billing and Collections

12 September 2006

U.S. Productivity Slips for First Time Since 2001

12 September 2006

Consumer Credit Shows Signs of Picking Up in January

12 September 2006

U.S. Jobless Claims Rise to 303,000

12 September 2006

Banks, Regulators Call for Oversight Relief

12 September 2006

FDIC Monitoring Small Group of Gulf Coast Banks

12 September 2006

Tax Incentives OK'd for New Sallie Mae Debt Collection Center

12 September 2006