How Long Can the IRS Take Your Income Tax for Payment of Student Loans?

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This is my first year of paying receiving a W2 form after having been out of work for numerous years. I noticed that the last time that I filed they IMMEDIATELY took my refund to defer the cost of my loans from college….I have been out of college for nearly 12 years. It is not that I don’t want to pay the student loans I have been out of work and unable to pay and currently I only work part time and I am on disability.