VA Form 26-0503: Federal Collection Policy Notice

VA Form 26-0503 is the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Federal Collection Policy Notice. VA's form page lists it under housing assistance. The notice says the Federal Government is authorized by law to take any or all of the actions it lists if payments on a VA-guaranteed or VA-financed loan become delinquent or the loan is in default.

The form is one page. It lists nine actions, from credit bureau reporting and added charges to offsets of Federal payments, referral to a private collection agency or the Department of Justice, and reporting written-off debt to the Internal Revenue Service. A certification at the bottom says the signer has read and understands these actions, followed by a signature and a date.

The form and VA's page do not say who collects the signed notice. You can fill out the PDF free in your browser on this page and download the result without an account.

Top of page 1 of VA Form 26-0503: Federal Collection Policy Notice, as printed by VA

What's on VA Form 26-0503

The notice

A statement that the Federal Government is authorized by law to take any or all of the listed actions if VA-guaranteed or VA-financed loan payments become delinquent or the borrower defaults.

Credit reporting and added charges

Reporting name and account information to a credit bureau, additional interest and penalty charges for the time payment is not made, and charges for added administrative costs.

Offsets of Federal payments

Offset of amounts owed under other Federal programs, of Federal salary or civil service retirement benefits, and of an income tax refund through the Internal Revenue Service.

Referrals and written-off debt

Referral to a private collection agency or to the Department of Justice for litigation, and reporting written-off debt to the Internal Revenue Service as taxable income.

Certification

A statement that the signer has read and understands the actions the government can take if scheduled payments are not met, with a signature and a date.

How to complete VA Form 26-0503

1
Read the listed actions
The notice lists nine actions. It says all of them can and will be used to recover debts owed to VA when that is determined to be in the best interest of the Government.
2
Read the certification
The certification ties the notice to the terms and conditions of the agreement to purchase property with a VA-guaranteed or VA-financed loan.
3
Sign it
Sign on the signature line under the certification.
4
Date it and return it as directed
Enter the date. The form and VA's page print no mailing address or submission instructions.

Why fill Form 26-0503 on indox

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Where to send it

No address printed

Neither the form nor VA's page gives a mailing address or names who receives the signed notice.

Paper form only

VA's page offers the form as a downloadable PDF and lists no online version.

Edition

The form is dated JUL 1996. It says it supersedes VA Form 26-0503, MAR 1987, which will not be used.

Who uses VA Form 26-0503?

Buyers using a VA-guaranteed or VA-financed loan
The certification refers to the signer's agreement to purchase property with a VA-guaranteed or VA-financed loan.
The person who signs the certification
The form has one signature line and one date line under the certification that the signer has read and understands the listed actions.
Current or retired Federal employees
The notice says that for a current or retired Federal employee, salary or civil service retirement benefits may be offset.
Recipient not named
Neither the form nor VA's page says who collects the signed notice or where it is sent.

The form's certification describes who signs it. It does not name who receives it.

Official sources and the blank

Official VA form page
The agency’s own page for Form 26-0503.
Blank PDF
The official blank form, to print or fill by hand.

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Questions about Form 26-0503

What is VA Form 26-0503?

It is the Federal Collection Policy Notice. It lists actions the Federal Government is authorized by law to take if payments on a VA-guaranteed or VA-financed loan become delinquent or the loan is in default.

What actions does the notice list?

Credit bureau reporting, additional interest and penalty charges, administrative cost charges, offset of other Federal payments, referral to a private collection agency or the Department of Justice, Federal salary or retirement offset, tax refund offset and reporting written-off debt to the IRS as taxable income.

What does signing the form certify?

The certification says the signer has read and understands the actions the Federal Government can take if scheduled payments are not met under the agreement to purchase property with a VA-guaranteed or VA-financed loan.

Where do I send VA Form 26-0503?

The form and VA's page print no mailing address and do not name who receives the signed notice.

Is the March 1987 edition still valid?

No. The July 1996 form says it supersedes VA Form 26-0503, MAR 1987, which will not be used.

VA Form 26-0503: Federal Collection Policy Notice