Wage Garnishments
Stop the IRS from Taking Your Paycheck — Fast
IRS wage garnishment — technically called a wage levy — is one of the most financially damaging things the IRS can do to a working taxpayer. Unlike a one-time bank levy, an IRS wage garnishment is continuous: every paycheck, your employer is legally required to send the IRS everything above a small exempt amount until the debt is paid in full or the garnishment is released. For many people, this means losing 60–80% of their take-home pay indefinitely. We act fast — often releasing garnishments within days — and protect your income while working toward a permanent resolution.
What Is an IRS Wage Garnishment?
An IRS wage garnishment (formally a "continuous levy on salary and wages" under IRC § 6331) is a legal order requiring your employer to withhold a portion of your wages from every paycheck and remit that amount directly to the IRS. The garnishment continues automatically with each paycheck — it does not need to be renewed. The amount withheld is calculated by subtracting a small standard deduction and personal exemption amount (based on your filing status and dependents) from your disposable earnings. For many employees, this leaves only a fraction of their normal take-home pay. Before issuing a wage garnishment, the IRS must send you a Final Notice of Intent to Levy (typically CP90) and allow 30 days to respond. If you do not respond or resolve the debt, the garnishment begins.
How It Works
Same-Day Action
Wage garnishments require immediate response. We contact the IRS the day we are retained, establish our power of attorney, and begin the release process immediately.
Identify Release Grounds
We identify the fastest path to release — financial hardship, pending installment agreement, PPIA, OIC, or CDP hearing — and pursue the most expedient option.
IRS Revenue Officer Negotiation
We communicate directly with the assigned Revenue Officer, present your case, and negotiate the terms of release — typically conditioned on establishing a payment plan or other resolution.
Employer Notification
Once the IRS issues the release, we ensure your employer receives it promptly and your next paycheck reflects the full exempt amount. We track this to confirm the release takes effect.
Permanent Resolution
A garnishment release is temporary unless the underlying debt is resolved. We simultaneously establish a permanent resolution — installment agreement, OIC, CNC — to prevent re-garnishment.
Who Should Consider This?
- ✓Anyone currently under IRS wage garnishment
- ✓Employees who have received a Final Notice of Intent to Levy (CP90)
- ✓Taxpayers whose employer has been served with an IRS wage levy notice
- ✓Self-employed individuals facing continuous IRS levies on client payments
- ✓Federal employees facing Federal Payment Levy Program (FPLP) offsets
- ✓Anyone who has ignored IRS notices and is now experiencing paycheck reductions
Key Benefits
Fast Release — Often Within Days
We have successfully released garnishments within 24–72 hours in cases where the right documentation is quickly assembled.
Protect Your Income
Your paycheck is your livelihood. We treat garnishment releases as the emergency they are.
Employer Privacy
We handle communications with the IRS so minimal information is shared with your employer beyond what is legally required.
Prevent Re-Garnishment
A released garnishment without a permanent resolution is temporary. We lock in a long-term agreement to protect your income permanently.
Ready to Resolve Your Wage Garnishments Issue?
Free consultation. No obligation. A licensed tax attorney will call you within 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can you stop my wage garnishment?+
In most cases, we can obtain a garnishment release within 2–5 business days of being retained, provided we can gather your financial information quickly. Some cases resolve faster. The key is acting immediately — call us the day your garnishment begins.
Can the IRS garnish 100% of my wages?+
No, but they can take most of it. The IRS must leave you a small exempt amount based on your filing status and number of dependents. For a single person with no dependents, the exempt amount in 2024 is just over $1,100 per month — everything above that can be taken.
Does my employer know why my wages are being garnished?+
Your employer receives an IRS levy notice that identifies it as a federal tax levy, but does not include details of your tax situation. However, you should be aware that some employers view this negatively, which is another reason to resolve it quickly.
What if I change jobs — does the garnishment follow me?+
Yes. Once the IRS discovers your new employer through tax filings or other means, they can issue a new levy notice to your new employer. An outstanding levy that is not released will follow you regardless of employment changes.
Related Services
IRS Levies
An IRS levy gives the government the legal right to seize your assets. We act fast to release levies on bank accounts, wages, Social Security, and property.
Installment Agreement
Establish a formal monthly payment plan with the IRS to satisfy your tax debt over time and stop collection actions.
Currently Not Collectible
If your income barely covers your basic living expenses, the IRS is required by law to suspend collection activity on your account.