Wage Garnishment – What Is It and Can It Be Stopped?

On: December 22, 2023

Learning that you have a pending wage garnishment is enough to ruin your day. You probably have a bunch of questions soaring through your mind right now along with a little bit of panic. 

Fortunately, a wage garnishment can be stopped, but you must act fast. Hiring Leading Tax Group is a great move when you have a pending wage garnishment as our IRS tax experts can help put a stop to it. 

What is a Wage Garnishment?

A wage garnishment is a legal order that tells your employer to withhold a portion of your paycheck and send it to the IRS. The IRS uses this means of collection to ensure that your tax liability is paid back to them. 

Unlike other creditors, the IRS has more leeway than them when it comes to what it can and cannot do. For example, the IRS does not have to go in front of a judge and have a court order to garnish your wages. 

Can a Wage Garnishment Only Be Implemented on W-2 Employees?

No. While W-2 employees are easier to collect on because they do have a paycheck, the IRS is able to garnish the wages of self-employed individuals, businesses, and contractors too. 

How Much Will the IRS Garnish from My Wages?

It depends. The IRS can garnish a large portion of your paycheck to pay back your tax liability. Traditional private creditors are limited to how much they can withhold but the IRS is not. It is important to note that the amount of the garnishment will depend on how much your initial tax liability is. 

How Long is a Wage Garnishment in Place?

A wage garnishment will remain in place until you pay off the debt in full, create a payment arrangement with the IRS, or you have a wage release granted by the IRS due to financial hardship. 

Can a Wage Garnishment Be Stopped?

Yes. Initially, the IRS will send you a notice of their intent to garnish your wages and you will have 30 days to respond to this notice. If you do not, they will move forward with the garnishment. 

Once a garnishment has started, it can be difficult to get it stopped, but not impossible. It is important that you work with an experienced tax professional who knows what they are doing. 

There are options available to you that will allow you to get a garnishment stopped but you must be willing to work with the IRS. Your tax team can advise you in depth about the options available to you along with the pros and cons of each one. 

Can’t I Just Quit My Job?

You could, but this would hurt you more than it would help you. Yes, quitting your job means the garnishment stops but the moment you get a new job, the garnishment will reinstate. The IRS will always know where you work because you have to fill out tax forms at each place of employment. 

Quitting your job to avoid a garnishment will only lead the IRS to take other measures and steps to collect on the debt that you owe them, making your situation worse. 

Stop a Wage Garnishment with the Help of Leading Tax Group 

An IRS wage garnishment is not something to take lightly as it is a very serious thing. You could be left with very little money once the IRS has taken its portion from your paycheck. Many taxpayers in this situation find themselves struggling and in a financial crisis because of it. 

There are options out there to help you pay down your tax liability. At Leading Tax Group, we provide you with the best wage garnishment representation and have many years of experience handling all types of tax issues. Our tax team is successful at wage garnishment release and can work to get your garnishment stopped immediately. 

The IRS is not someone to play with. Call Leading Tax Group today for a free consultation with one of our tax experts.