Us Code § 5512 - Withholding pay; individuals in arrears
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 5512 — Withholding pay; individuals in arrears, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 5512. Withholding pay; individuals in arrears
(a) The pay of an individual in arrears to the United States shall be withheld until he has accounted for and paid into the Treasury of the United States all sums for which he is liable.
(b) When pay is withheld under subsection (a) of this section, the employing agency, on request of the individual, his agent, or his attorney, shall report immediately to the Attorney General the balance due; and the Attorney General, within 60 days, shall order suit to be commenced against the individual.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 477; Pub. L. 92–310, title II, §202, June 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 202; Pub. L. 104–316, title I, §103(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3828.)
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large |
|---|---|---|
| 5 U.S.C. 82. | R.S. §1766. |
In subsection (b), reference to the "General Accounting Office" is substituted for "accounting officers of the Treasury" on authority of the Act of June 10, 1921, ch. 18, title III, 42 Stat. 23. The words "on request of" are substituted for "if required to do so by" as more accurately reflecting the intent. Reference to the "Attorney General" is substituted for "Solicitor of the Treasury" and "Solicitor" on authority of section 16 of the Act of March 3, 1933, ch. 212, 47 Stat. 1517; section 5 of E.O. 6166, June 10, 1933; and section 1 of 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 2, 64 Stat. 1261.
Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–316 substituted "employing agency" for "General Accounting Office".
1972—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92–310 struck out "and his sureties" after "against the individual".
About This Section
5 U.S.C. § 5512 is part of Title 5 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 5 U.S.C. § 5512. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.