It is now possible to Venmo the US government to help pay off the whopping $36 trillion of national debt.
People have been left shocked to discover that the Treasury department is now accepting payments from citizens through Venmo in a bid to tackle the debt.
The contributions will go towards paying off the $36 trillion deficit that the US is currently in.
Voluntary payments towards the government isn’t a new thing - the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which is part of the US Department of the Treasury, has allowed people to make individual payments for years.
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This could be done through government platforms such as Pay.gov and can include money gifts or the transfer of personal property.
However, talks from earlier this year have led to more modern methods of payments now being accepted including Venmo and PayPal.
According to reports by the Treasury, in 2022 alone voluntary gifts from the public contributed a total of $180,310.32 towards the national debt.
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On the Venmo help center’s policy page about payments to the government, it reads: “Your Venmo Direct Deposit account can be used to receive Direct Deposit funds from many sources, including the government.
“You can provide your Venmo Direct Deposit account number to the government for unemployment payments, tax refunds, Social Security payments, and more. Venmo's Direct Deposit feature allows for recurring payments, such as unemployment funds, or one-time payments, such as tax returns.
“When providing your Direct Deposit details to an employer or other issuer, please be sure to confirm your account and routing numbers as they appear in your Venmo app.”
Back in May of this year, Rabin Sawh, who is the regional vice president of Catalis Payments, said: “Offering Venmo as a payment option indicates that governments understand and respect these preferences, making it easier for constituents to interact with civic systems online.”
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The news has prompted a big response on social media, with a lot of people raising questions about the new system.
On Reddit, one user asked: “Can I send a venmo request to the government?”
While another queried: “Wasn't that the point of DOGE???”
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A third person joked: “The govt is that broke friend that asks you to venmo them to help with rent. Then you see them posts on instagram out clubbing or buying a new car.”
And another added: “You can also Venmo me and help pay my debts.”
This prompted a reply from a user who said: “I don’t know what debts you have or what reason you have to be in debt, but I rather support you than the government.”