Ivy Tech Community College is asking the Indiana Department of Revenue to divert tax refunds of students who owe the college money.

The school says that it loses out on about $12 million each year because of student-owed debt.

Collection agencies only recover about $1 million a year.

Most of the money owed is related to federal financial aid owed by students who drop classes but fail to repay the assistance.

The statewide college has implemented a tax intercept program in an effort to improve those collections.

Purdue University and some other colleges currently use the program.