Chancellor’s Office Tax Offset Program (COTOP)
What is COTOP?
COTOP is a program that provides Chaffey College with a method of collecting Accounts Receivable balances for student financial aid and non-financial aid obligations. Past due accounts will be submitted by Chaffey College to COTOP for a tax offset (via an intercept by the Franchise Tax Board of any tax refunds, lottery winnings, or unclaimed property that might be owed to you).
Please be aware that this debt will NOT be submitted to any major credit agencies.
Why did I receive this letter?
The letter was to formally notify you of amounts owed to Chaffey College, and that Chaffey College is participating in the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Tax Offset Program (COTOP).
Prior to submitting an account to COTOP for tax offset, the Chaffey College Cashier’s Office will send out a “due process” collection letter to the last known address of the student, instructing them that they may be sent to COTOP.
Students then have 30 days to pay their fees in full or to make payment arrangements before the debtor data is submitted to the State Chancellor’s Office. This is to allow the debtor time to question the debt and/or pay the college before the tax offset process begins through the Franchise Tax Board.
What type of student obligations can Chaffey College submit for tax offset?
- Non-resident tuition
- Enrollment fees
- Library fines
- Library replacement material charges
- Parking fees
- Parking fines (limited to those fines submitted within 3 years of being incurred)
- Personal checks returned for non-sufficient funds
- Returned check service charges
- Childcare charges
- Instructional equipment breakage/replacement charges
- Health fees
- Transcript fees
- Foreign student insurance charges
- Dental health center charges
- Community services fees
- Lost key charges
- Transportation charges/fees
- Audit fees
- Contract class charges
- Instructional material fee
- Damage to campus facilities/equipment charges
- Student representation fee
- Student center fee
- Campus financial aid funds
- Board of Governors Enrollment Fee Waivers (BOG) for which the student was not eligible.
What do I need to do if I receive a COTOP letter in the mail?
Payments are accepted in person or by mail. In-person payments are accepted at our Chino, Fontana, and Rancho Cucamonga campuses. To pay by mail, please send a cashier’s check or money order to:
Chaffey College
Attn: Cashier’s Office
5885 Haven Ave
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737
Inquiries or objections may be submitted by email to accountbalance@chaffey.edu within 30 days of the date of this letter. Upon receipt of an inquiry or objection, a Chaffey College representative will review your case. If no response or payment is received within 30 days, or if the information provided does not support your objection, we will proceed with submitting the debt for collection.
Why has my tax return been taken by Chaffey College?
Your past due student fees were submitted to COTOP due to non-payment. Because Chaffey College did not receive anything in writing to dispute the charges explained above, COTOP was used as a collections tool provided by the State of California.
