Wage Garnishment
A wage garnishment can take a significant portion of every paycheck, and it usually does not stop until the underlying tax issue is resolved or the IRS agrees to release it. We help you understand why it is happening, work to get it released or reduced, and put a plan in place so it does not come back.
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Understanding Wage Garnishment
A wage garnishment, sometimes called a wage levy, is when the IRS orders your employer to withhold part of your pay and send it directly to the IRS to cover a tax debt. Unlike most creditors, the IRS does not need a court order to do this, which is why it can feel like it came out of nowhere.
The amount the IRS takes is based on your filing status and the number of dependents you claim, and it can leave you with surprisingly little to live on. The garnishment continues, paycheck after paycheck, until the debt is paid, the garnishment is released, or you reach an agreement with the IRS that replaces it.
A garnishment does not have to run its course. In many cases it can be released or reduced by addressing the tax debt behind it, for example by setting up an installment agreement, demonstrating financial hardship, or correcting an issue with the underlying balance. The first step is understanding exactly why the IRS took this action and what options apply to your situation.
How We Help
Stopping a garnishment is rarely a single action. It usually means resolving what is driving it. Here is how we work.
Step 01
We start by understanding why the IRS issued the garnishment: how much you owe, which years are involved, whether all returns are filed, and how much the garnishment is taking. That tells us which release or resolution options realistically apply.
Step 02
From there we build a written plan. That might mean negotiating an installment agreement, pursuing penalty relief, evaluating an Offer in Compromise, or requesting Currently Not Collectible status if paying would create genuine hardship. You see exactly what we recommend, and why, before anything moves forward.
Step 03
Once you approve the plan, we deal with the IRS directly. We file any outstanding returns, submit the necessary documentation, and handle the negotiation. You stop fielding the notices and calls, and we keep you informed at every step.
Resolution Options
The right path depends on your finances and why the garnishment was issued. These are the most common ways to get one released.
Agreeing to pay the debt over time in monthly installments will, in most cases, lead the IRS to release the garnishment once the agreement is in place. This is the most common way to stop a garnishment while resolving the balance on manageable terms.
Learn about Installment Agreements →If the garnishment is leaving you unable to cover basic living expenses, the IRS may release it and place your account in Currently Not Collectible status. This pauses collection, including the garnishment, while your financial situation is what it is.
Learn about Currently Not Collectible status →For taxpayers who qualify, settling the debt for less than the full amount can resolve the balance driving the garnishment. Eligibility is narrower than tax-relief advertising suggests, and most cases do not qualify, but we will tell you honestly whether it is a realistic option.
Learn about Offer in Compromise →Sometimes a garnishment is based on a balance the IRS estimated because returns were never filed. Filing the missing returns can lower the real amount owed, and in some cases removes the basis for the garnishment entirely.
The right path depends on your finances and why the garnishment was issued. The consultation is where we determine which one applies to you.
Every paycheck counts when a garnishment is in place. A consultation is where we figure out how to stop it.
Why Work With Us
Your case is handled by a licensed CPA, Enrolled Agent, or tax attorney with the authority to represent you directly before the IRS. No call-center reps, no commission-driven sales staff.
We quote the cost in writing before any engagement begins, in plain language, so you know exactly what you're committing to before you decide.
We tell you what actually applies to your situation, including when a dramatic settlement is not realistic. We would rather give you the honest picture than an overpromise.
Honest answers to the questions we hear most often about IRS wage garnishments.
The timeline depends on why the garnishment was issued, whether all returns are filed, and which resolution option applies. In many cases, the fastest path is to contact the IRS with the correct authority, establish the facts, and propose a resolution that supports release.
The IRS has administrative collection powers that allow it to issue a wage levy without going through the same court process as most private creditors. That does not mean you are out of options. It means the response needs to be handled quickly and correctly.
The amount depends on your filing status, pay frequency, and number of dependents. The IRS leaves only an exempt amount and can require your employer to send the rest to the IRS until the garnishment is released or the debt is resolved.
Yes. Because the IRS sends the levy to your employer, your payroll department will know enough to process the withholding. The goal is to address the issue quickly so the garnishment does not continue longer than necessary.
It can if the underlying tax issue is not resolved or if the terms of an agreement are not followed. That is why we focus on both getting the garnishment released and building a plan to prevent the same issue from returning.
Related Tax Problems
A 30-minute conversation can tell you what the IRS took this action and what your options are to stop it. No obligation, and no pressure to commit.
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