SCOTT COUNTY RECORDER
MEDIA RELEASE
February 12, 2018

Rita Vargas, Scott County Recorder, received notice in the New Orleans Passport Center Newsletter informing the public of changes to the issuance of U.S. Passports. Beginning this month, passport applicants who have been certified as having a seriously delinquent federal tax debt totaling more than $50,000 (including interest and penalties) may be denied issuance of a U.S. passport and may have any currently valid U.S. passport revoked.

Passport applicants who have a seriously delinquent tax debt may have their applications delayed until their tax issues are resolved with the Internal Revenue Service. These applicants will be notified in writing by Passport Services.

Once an applicant has resolved his/her tax problem with the IRS, the IRS will reverse the certification within 30 days of resolution of the issue and provide notification to the Department of State as soon as practicable. The issue may be resolved by paying the balance in full or making payment arrangements with the IRS.

Passport Services and the Scott County Recorder’s Office do not have any information about applicants’ seriously delinquent tax debt. For questions, or to resolve a seriously delinquent tax debt, applicants should contact the IRS at 1-855-519-4965.