Wage Garnishment Calculator

What Is Wage Garnishment?

Wage garnishment (also called wage attachment or wage levy) is a legal process where a creditor obtains a court order requiring your employer to withhold a portion of your paycheck and send it directly to the creditor. Your employer has no choice — they must comply with a valid garnishment order. Garnishment continues until the debt is fully paid, you successfully challenge it in court, or you reach an agreement with the creditor. Common debts that lead to garnishment include unpaid child support, defaulted student loans, IRS tax debts, court-ordered fines and restitution, credit card judgments, and medical debt judgments.

Federal Garnishment Limits (Consumer Credit Protection Act)

The Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA), Title III, sets the maximum amount any creditor can garnish from your wages. For ordinary debts (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans), the limit is the lesser of: (1) 25% of your disposable earnings, or (2) the amount by which your disposable weekly earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25 x 30 = $217.50 per week). If you earn $217.50 or less per week in disposable income, your wages cannot be garnished at all for ordinary debts. 'Disposable earnings' means the amount left after legally required deductions — federal and state taxes, Social Security, Medicare, and state unemployment insurance. Voluntary deductions like health insurance, 401(k) contributions, and union dues are NOT subtracted.

Child Support Garnishment Limits

Child support and alimony garnishment has higher limits than other debts. Federal law allows up to 50% of disposable earnings if you are currently supporting another spouse or child, or up to 60% if you are not. An additional 5% can be taken if you are more than 12 weeks behind on payments, bringing the maximum to 65% of disposable earnings. These limits apply regardless of state law. If you are being garnished for both child support and another debt, the child support garnishment takes priority, and the total for all garnishments combined usually cannot exceed 65%. State child support enforcement agencies can also garnish wages through an income withholding order without needing a separate court judgment.

Student Loan Garnishment (Federal)

The federal government can garnish up to 15% of your disposable earnings for defaulted federal student loans through a process called administrative wage garnishment — no court order is required. However, you must be left with at least 30 times the federal minimum wage ($217.50/week) after the garnishment. Before garnishment begins, you have the right to a hearing where you can challenge the amount, the existence of the debt, or claim financial hardship. Private student loans follow the same rules as other consumer debts and require a court judgment.

IRS Tax Levy Garnishment

IRS wage levies are different from regular garnishment. The IRS uses Publication 1494 tables based on your filing status and number of dependents to determine how much of your pay is exempt from levy. The exempt amount is roughly equivalent to the standard deduction plus personal exemptions divided by the number of pay periods. Everything above the exempt amount can be taken — often 70-85% of your paycheck. Tax levies are the most aggressive form of garnishment. However, the IRS will usually work with you to set up an installment agreement if you respond promptly. Contact the IRS or a tax professional immediately if you receive a levy notice.

States With the Strongest Protections

Several states provide significantly more protection than federal law. Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina prohibit wage garnishment for most consumer debts (only allowing it for child support, taxes, and student loans). Florida exempts heads of household from consumer debt garnishment entirely. New York limits garnishment to 10% of gross income or 25% of disposable earnings, whichever is less, with additional protections for low-income earners. California uses 40 times the state minimum wage (instead of 30 times federal) as the exempt threshold. Illinois protects the greater of 85% of gross pay or 45 times the federal minimum wage. Massachusetts exempts $750 per week. These state protections can save you hundreds of dollars per paycheck compared to the federal baseline.

How to Challenge or Reduce Garnishment

You have legal options to fight or reduce garnishment. First, you can claim the head-of-household exemption in many states, which provides extra protection if you are the primary earner supporting dependents. Second, you can file a claim of exemption with the court arguing that the garnishment causes undue financial hardship — you cannot afford basic necessities like rent, food, and utilities. Third, you can negotiate directly with the creditor for a voluntary payment plan, which may result in lower monthly payments than garnishment. Fourth, filing for bankruptcy (Chapter 7 or Chapter 13) triggers an automatic stay that stops most garnishments immediately. Fifth, if the underlying debt or the garnishment order contains errors, you can challenge it in court. Many legal aid organizations provide free help with garnishment defense.

What to Do If You Are Being Garnished

If you receive a garnishment notice, do not ignore it. Review the notice carefully — confirm the debt is yours, the amount is correct, and the creditor followed proper legal procedures. Check if your state has stronger protections than federal law (use the calculator above). File any exemption claims before the deadline listed on the notice — typically 10-30 days. Contact a legal aid organization for free help: visit LawHelp.org or call 211 for referrals. If you are already being garnished for another debt, the total garnishment may be capped. Keep all documents and correspondence. Remember that certain income is completely exempt from garnishment, including Social Security benefits (in most cases), SSI, veterans' benefits, and workers' compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much of my paycheck can be garnished?

For most consumer debts, the maximum is the lesser of 25% of your disposable earnings or the amount your weekly disposable income exceeds $217.50 (30 times the federal minimum wage). Many states have lower limits. Child support can take up to 50-65%, and IRS tax levies can take even more. Use the calculator above for your exact limit.

Can my wages be garnished without a court order?

For most debts, the creditor must first sue you, win a judgment, and then obtain a garnishment order from the court. However, three types of debt can be garnished without a court judgment: (1) child support through income withholding orders, (2) defaulted federal student loans through administrative wage garnishment, and (3) federal tax debts through IRS levies. State tax agencies may also garnish without a court order in some states.

Can I be fired for having my wages garnished?

Federal law (CCPA) prohibits your employer from firing you because of a single garnishment. However, the law does not protect you from termination if you have two or more separate garnishments. Some states, like California, provide broader protection and prohibit firing for any number of garnishments.

What income is exempt from garnishment?

Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), veterans' benefits, military retirement pay, federal employee retirement benefits, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, and public assistance are generally exempt from garnishment by private creditors. However, these benefits can still be garnished for child support, federal taxes, and in some cases, federal student loans. Once exempt funds are deposited in a bank account, some protection may apply under the 'bank account garnishment' rules.

Can my bank account be garnished too?

Yes. In addition to wage garnishment, creditors with a court judgment can also garnish (freeze and seize) funds in your bank account. Federal rules protect the first two months of Social Security and other exempt federal benefits deposited in your account. Some states provide additional bank account protections. If you receive a bank garnishment notice, act quickly — you typically have a short window to claim exemptions.

How do I stop wage garnishment?

You can stop or reduce garnishment by: (1) paying the debt in full, (2) negotiating a payment plan with the creditor that replaces the garnishment, (3) filing a claim of exemption arguing financial hardship, (4) filing for bankruptcy (triggers an automatic stay), (5) challenging the underlying debt if it is not valid, or (6) claiming head-of-household or other state exemptions. Contact a legal aid organization for free advice on which option is best for your situation.

Does garnishment affect my credit score?

The garnishment itself does not directly appear on your credit report. However, the underlying debt that led to the garnishment — such as a court judgment, collections account, or student loan default — will appear on your credit report and significantly damage your credit score. A civil judgment related to the debt may also appear. Paying off the debt through garnishment will eventually be reflected, but the negative history remains for 7 years.

Can multiple creditors garnish my wages at the same time?

Generally, only one non-priority garnishment can be active at a time, and the total amount garnished across all orders typically cannot exceed 25% of disposable earnings for consumer debts. Child support takes priority and is deducted first. If you already have a child support garnishment taking 50% and a second creditor tries to garnish, the consumer debt garnishment may be reduced or delayed because the combined total is limited. IRS levies, however, take priority over most other garnishments.

What is the difference between 'disposable earnings' and 'gross pay'?

Gross pay is your total earnings before any deductions. Disposable earnings (also called 'disposable income' in this context) is the amount remaining after legally required deductions: federal income tax, state and local taxes, Social Security (FICA), and Medicare. Voluntary deductions like health insurance premiums, 401(k) contributions, and union dues are NOT subtracted when calculating disposable earnings for garnishment purposes. The garnishment percentage is applied to disposable earnings, not gross pay, in most states.

Can garnishment take my entire paycheck?

No. Federal law guarantees that you keep at least the equivalent of 30 times the federal minimum wage per week ($217.50) for consumer debts. For child support, you always keep at least 35% of your disposable income. IRS tax levies are the most aggressive, but they still must leave you a minimum exempt amount based on filing status and dependents. If your disposable earnings are at or below the federal minimum wage threshold, no garnishment is allowed for consumer debts.