Wage garnishment is withheld pay after taxes, 401(k) contributions, and benefits to repay unpaid debts. If ordered, your employer can garnish your wages and redirect payments for unpaid child support or alimony, taxes, or even student loans.
It can be stressful—emotionally and financially—to have any of your pay withheld, especially if you don’t know who is doing it. If you are experiencing this, keep reading. We’ll walk you through how to find out and how to stop it.
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Who could be garnishing my wages?
Your wages could be garnished for a handful of reasons, including unpaid loans or to financially support a child or an ex-spouse. Who exactly is garnishing your wages depends on the type of debt.
Whether the federal government or a creditor is garnishing your wages, you typically must receive written notice before your wages are garnished. Some garnishments require a court order, while others do not.
Here’s a closer look at the types of debts that can cause wage garnishment and who can garnish each type.
Child support
What is it?
Court-ordered payments to help cover the costs of raising a child.
Who can garnish?
Wages can be garnished through a court order or directly by a state child support agency—even without a lawsuit from the other parent.
How does it work?
A child support enforcement agency or the other parent can request garnishment. If approved, your employer will be legally required to withhold a portion of your paycheck. You’ll typically receive notice and may have a chance to contest or negotiate.
How much can be taken?
Under the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA), up to 50% of your wages can be garnished if you’re supporting another dependent, or 60% if you’re not.
Alimony
What is it?
Court-ordered payments to a former spouse after a divorce.
Who can garnish?
Enforcement usually begins with a court order at the state level. Your ex-spouse can petition the court to garnish wages directly or with help from a lawyer or service.
How does it work?
If approved, your employer must deduct the amount from your paycheck. You’ll usually get advance notice and time to respond or make payment arrangements.
How much can be taken?
Similar to child support, up to 60% of your wages may be withheld depending on your financial obligations.
Student loan
What is it?
Unpaid federal or private student loans.
Who can garnish?
- Federal loans: The U.S. Department of Education (ED) can use administrative wage garnishment to garnish wages without a court order.
- Private loans: The lender must sue you and win a court judgment before garnishing wages.
How does it work?
The ED files Form 329 with the Bureau of Fiscal Service, which then notifies your employer. You’ll receive written notice in advance and have 15 days to request a hearing.
How much can be taken?
Up to 15% of your disposable income may be garnished for federal student loans.
Other federal loans
What is it?
Loans from federal agencies—like SBA loans or disaster relief funding.
Who can garnish?
The agency that issued the loan can garnish wages using Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG)—no court required.
How does it work?
The agency files Form 329, and you’ll get a notice at least 30 days before garnishment begins. You have 15 business days to request a hearing.
How much can be taken?
Usually capped at 15%, like with student loans.
Back tax
What is it?
Unpaid federal or state taxes.
Who can garnish?
The IRS or state revenue departments can garnish your wages using a tax levy.
How does it work?
The IRS will send multiple notices (e.g., Final Notice of Intent to Levy) before garnishment begins. If you don’t respond, the agency can move forward with taking a portion of your paycheck.
How much can be taken?
The IRS uses a sliding scale based on your filing status and dependents. There’s no fixed percentage limit like other debts.
Unpaid credit cards or loans
What is it?
Delinquent debts like credit card balances, personal loans, or mortgages.
Who can garnish?
Private creditors and debt collection agencies—but only with a court judgment.
How does it work?
Creditors usually try to contact you first. If they sue and win, they can request wage garnishment. Always respond ASAP—disputing the debt or negotiating repayment could prevent court involvement.
How much can be taken?
Under the CCPA, up to 25% of your disposable income can be garnished for consumer debts.
How can I find out who is garnishing my wages?
If you’ve noticed it’s already started, try finding out who’s garnishing your wages by speaking with someone at your employer’s office who manages payroll processing, benefits, and tax forms.
This can be a good place to start because your employer would receive the wage garnishment order on your behalf. In technical terms, your employer is the “garnishee,” or the one who is garnishing your wages to send to the one you owe the debt to.
That said, your employer will know where—and whom—the letter or notice came from.
Pay stubs
You may see a “garnishment” line item on your pay stub with a description that includes the creditor’s name.
You might be able to access electronic stubs through your employee portal. Contact your HR department for help accessing your portal and electronic pay stubs.
Human resources department
HR is the next place you turn. According to the CCPA, your employer is required to begin garnishing your wages upon notice.
Chances are, it received complete information about the creditor. If you work for a smaller employer, the accounting department or person in charge of payroll may help.
Credit report
For some, a credit report can even indicate who may be garnishing your wages. A creditor can report your debt to the credit reporting agencies if you don’t respond to efforts to contact you within two weeks.
Written notices and documentation
As a reminder, if a private creditor is seeking repayment through wage garnishment, court filing is required. This means you must be notified by the court of its request for wage garnishment. There are state laws that often require courts to send written notice.
The notice or letter should include information about who’s requesting garnishment. Garnishment may begin in a few weeks, but in some areas, such as California, the notice you receive might provide a date.
Public database
Many local (municipal and countywide) government websites have a public records database to search. You can start by searching by your first and last name, along with your date of birth and when you think the wage garnishment request would have been filed.
How can I find out who is garnishing my wages online for free?
While we recommend touching base with your HR or accounting department if you don’t know who is garnishing your wages, you have several free options online to check. Here are resources to get started:
- IRS notices and letters webpage
- IRS list of state government websites
- Your state’s department of revenue website
- Your state comptroller website
- Your county clerk of courts website
It also wouldn’t hurt to look up your online credit report from the three credit bureaus:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
These three credit reports are free to request once a week. You can request each report here.
How to stop wage garnishment
The best way to stop wage garnishment is to act fast. Whether you receive a court order, a notice of intent, or a legal letter, you typically have about 14 to 30 business days to respond. Ignoring it can lead to automatic deductions from your paycheck until a court hearing determines otherwise.
Long-term wage garnishment can have a severe impact on your financial stability, leading to a damaged credit score that makes it harder to buy or rent a home, secure financing for a vehicle, and build savings for emergencies or retirement. However, taking swift action—such as negotiating with creditors and consulting a financial counselor—can help mitigate these effects. Addressing the issue promptly and establishing a resolution plan can also alleviate stress and anxiety by providing a clearer path to financial recovery.
Steps to take immediately:
- Stay calm, and don’t ignore it. Although facing wage garnishment can be stressful, acting fast gives you more control.
- Gather all relevant documents. Locate contracts, bills, court notices, or statements related to the debt.
- Respond in writing. If you dispute the debt or face financial hardship, submit a written response with supporting documents.
- Negotiate with the creditor. Many creditors prefer to settle rather than go to court. Even a partial payment offer might help.
- Attend any hearings. If you receive a summons, don’t skip it. You can represent yourself or hire a lawyer.
If you’re already facing garnishment or want to explore alternatives, consider these options.
| Option | Best for |
| Credit counseling service | Those who don’t know where to start |
| Debt or tax relief service | High debt amounts |
| Dispute | When garnishment hasn’t started |
| Repayment plan | Negotiating directly with creditors |
| Payoff | Those with the means to settle debt right away |
| Bankruptcy | Last resort |
1. Credit counseling service
Best for: When you don’t know where to start
If you need support but aren’t sure how to move forward, a nonprofit credit counseling service can be a great option. These organizations provide low-cost advisers and resources to help you come up with a path forward.
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) is an organization that educates its clients on financial literacy and helps them get out of debt.
You’ll set up an initial consultation, schedule time to review your situation and budget, and then set up a plan with a professional’s help. Connect with a certified financial credit counselor.
2. Debt or tax relief service
Best for: When you have high debt amounts
Reputable debt relief companies negotiate with creditors to settle or restructure what you owe. The best tax relief services can help if you’re facing garnishment due to unpaid taxes.
These services may reduce your debt or extend your repayment timeline, but they come with fees and no guarantees of success. You could also face a tax liability if a significant portion of your debt is forgiven.
If you’re considering this route, start with reputable companies that don’t charge upfront fees. Here’s how it typically works:
- Schedule a free consultation
- Sign an agreement to work with the company
- Let the company handle negotiations
For example, Alleviate Tax charges a flat fee to investigate your tax situation and then negotiates directly with the IRS to find the best resolution. Alleviate also earns our team’s “best lowest price guarantee” designation among tax relief companies.
And National Debt Relief is our choice for the best overall debt relief program thanks to its strong track record, transparent process, and focus on helping consumers become debt-free in 24 to 48 months.
3. Dispute
Best for: When garnishment hasn’t started yet or there’s a legal issue with an active garnishment
If you receive a notice of intent to garnish your wages, responding within 30 days can stop it before it starts. Common reasons for dispute include:
- Lack of proper notice: The creditor didn’t follow the legal process.
- Incorrect debt: You already paid or are already making payments.
- Too much being garnished: Federal law limits wage garnishment to 25% of disposable earnings in most cases.
If garnishment has already begun, you may still be able to challenge it if:
- The amount being taken exceeds legal limits.
- The creditor failed to notify you properly.
- You qualify for a financial hardship exemption.
To dispute, file an objection with the court that issued the garnishment order and provide supporting documents. If your dispute is accepted, garnishment may be reduced or stopped entirely.
4. Repayment plan
Best for: When you want to negotiate directly with the creditor
You can contact your creditor and offer to set up a structured repayment plan. Look for contact details in your wage garnishment notice or search online. If the creditor agrees to a plan, get the terms in writing.
Being proactive—before garnishment begins—is always the best approach. Ignoring the issue only makes it worse.
Find out how to set up a tax repayment plan with the IRS.
5. Pay it off
Best for: Those with the means to pay extra
If your wages are already being garnished, paying a lump sum or making additional payments can speed up the process. Once the full debt is repaid, garnishment stops.
6. Bankruptcy
Best for: When you have no other options
Filing for bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay, pausing garnishment while the court reviews your case. However, bankruptcy doesn’t eliminate all debts—child support, alimony, and some taxes will still need to be paid.
- Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidates assets to cover debts.
- Chapter 13 bankruptcy restructures debt into a three- to five-year repayment plan.
Because bankruptcy has long-term financial consequences, it should be a last resort.
FAQ
Can someone garnish my wages without me knowing?
No, in most cases, you will be notified before a wage garnishment begins. Creditors generally need to sue you and obtain a court order before garnishing your wages. However, there are exceptions—certain debts, like child support, federal student loans, and unpaid taxes can result in garnishment without a court judgment. Even in these cases, you should receive a notice informing you of the garnishment and your rights.
What is the most they can garnish from my paycheck?
The amount that can be garnished from your paycheck depends on the type of debt and whether federal or state laws apply. Under federal law, most debts are subject to a garnishment limit of 25% of your disposable earnings or the amount exceeding 30 times the federal minimum wage—whichever is less.
For child support and alimony, up to 50% of your disposable income can be garnished if you’re supporting another dependent, or up to 60% if you’re not. Garnishment for federal student loans and unpaid taxes is generally capped at 15% of disposable income. However, some states have stricter limits or ban wage garnishment altogether, so your location can also affect how much can be taken.
Can I quit my job to avoid wage garnishment?
Quitting your job might pause wage garnishment, but it won’t eliminate your debt. Creditors may still pursue other collection methods, including garnishing your wages at a new job, levying your bank account, or placing a lien on your property. If you’re struggling with garnishment, negotiating with the creditor, contesting the garnishment, or exploring debt relief options may be better solutions.
Can a creditor take all the money in your bank account?
It depends on the type of debt and applicable laws. A creditor with a court judgment can issue a bank levy, freezing and withdrawing funds from your account. However, some funds are typically protected, such as Social Security benefits, disability payments, and certain public assistance funds. If your account contains exempt funds, you may need to notify the bank or file an objection to prevent them from being seized.