Oh man, this is something that freaks a lot of people out—including me, when it happened to my cousin! So, yeah, the IRS absolutely can lower your $3000 tax refund or even keep it if you owe certain debts, like unpaid taxes, child support, or federal student loans. They call it an "offset," and it surprises a lot of people because you might be expecting a certain amount, then get less or even nothing.

But the IRS does have to tell you what they did. If your refund gets taken or reduced, they'll mail you a notice explaining what happened and where the money went. Sometimes those notices are super confusing or arrive after you've already realized your refund is smaller than you thought. I remember my cousin was so mad because he planned to use his refund for a car and then found out most of it went to his old student loan. If you're worried, check your mail for any notices, and if you're not sure, call the IRS or the agency they sent your refund to. It’s super annoying, but at least you can track down the details if you push for answers.