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Why Your Passport Was Denied or Revoked
Also called: Passport Denial Program, Passport Revocation, CP508C
Last reviewed 2026-07-11
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What this notice usually means
Two separate federal programs can stop the State Department from issuing you a passport, or take back one you already have. The first covers child support. If you owe more than $2,500 in past-due child support, the state where you owe it reports you to HHS, which then reports your name to the State Department. The second covers tax debt. If you owe more than $66,000 in seriously delinquent federal tax debt for 2026, the IRS reports you directly to the State Department through Notice CP508C. Paying down your debt does not always fix things right away. For child support, after you pay, the state must tell HHS, and that report takes a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks to clear the hold. Paying below the $2,500 line does not automatically clear you either. States are not required to remove you once you drop under the threshold, and if more than one state reported you, every one of them must request your removal. A passport that was already revoked stays unusable even after the debt is paid. You need a new passport once the certifying agency reports that your debt is resolved.
What to do now
- 1
Find out which program flagged you
A child support hold traces back to a state child support agency and HHS. A tax debt hold comes from the IRS through Notice CP508C. Check your letter for the source.
- 2
For child support, pay the state you owe
Contact the state where you owe the debt directly. That state must then tell HHS, and HHS reports the update to the State Department. Paying below $2,500 does not clear you automatically either. A state does not have to remove you once your balance drops under the threshold, so ask the state directly if you have been cleared.
- 3
For tax debt, see the IRS CP508C notice
See our separate CP508C page. It covers the IRS dollar limit, payment options, and timeline.
- 4
Get free legal help
A Low Income Taxpayer Clinic can help with a tax debt hold, often at no cost. For a child support hold, ask your state's family law self help center or a legal aid office about disputing the underlying debt.
- 5
Expect to apply for a new passport after a revocation
A revoked passport cannot be used again, even once the debt is paid. Plan on a new application once the hold is lifted.
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Clearing a child support hold takes a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks after the state reports your payment to HHS. There is no fixed deadline to pay. The hold simply continues until the certifying agency reports resolution to the State Department.
We did not verify a general deadline for this letter. Your letter shows the real date.
Wondering which date applies to you? Check it with Plainly
Sources
- U.S. Department of State, Child Support (travel.state.gov)Retrieved 2026-07-11
- Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement (acf.gov)Retrieved 2026-07-11
- IRS, Revocation or denial of passport in cases of certain unpaid taxes (irs.gov)Retrieved 2026-07-11
Last reviewed 2026-07-11
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