Wage Garnishment Hits Harder in This Region Than Almost Anywhere Else
In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, most families run extremely tight budgets. Between:
- Mortgage or rent
- High property taxes
- Commuting and tolls
- Car payments and insurance
- Groceries
- Childcare
- Medical costs
- Utilities
…there isn’t much room left.
So when the IRS suddenly takes 20–25% of each paycheck, the impact is immediate and severe.
The good news:
A wage garnishment can often be stopped much more quickly than people realize — sometimes before the next paycheck.
Let’s break down exactly how.
How the IRS Legally Starts a Wage Levy
The IRS cannot garnish wages without sending required notices first.
The final notice is the big one:
Final Notice of Intent to Levy (LT11 or Letter 1058)
Once this deadline passes, the IRS can contact your employer at any time.
Your employer is required to comply — no court order needed.
Why PA/NJ Garnishments Are Such a Crisis
IRS formulas don’t reflect the cost of living in:
- Philadelphia suburbs
- Bucks & Montgomery counties
- South Jersey (Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Moorestown)
- Delaware County
- Center City
- High-cost urban areas and older housing markets
The IRS believes a certain amount of your income is “enough to live on.”
In this region, that number is often unrealistic.
Demonstrating this gap is the first step to getting the levy lifted.
Immediate Actions That Can Stop the Levy
McCauley Law Offices uses several strategies depending on the situation.
1. Hardship Release (Often the Fastest)
If the levy prevents you from covering basic living expenses, you may qualify for a hardship release.
Proof can include:
- Rent/mortgage
- Utilities
- Car payments
- Childcare
- Medical expenses
- Insurance
- Transportation
- Necessary household supplies
Once the IRS sees that the levy causes financial damage, they may release it.
2. Filing Missing Tax Returns
If any returns are unfiled, the IRS becomes aggressive.
Filing overdue returns often triggers holds or temporary relief.
3. Temporary Collection Hold
A collection hold pauses the levy while:
- Financial documents are gathered
- Returns are filed
- A long-term resolution is prepared
This can stop the next paycheck from being hit.
4. Installment Agreement
A structured payment plan may replace the levy entirely once approved.
5. Offer in Compromise Consideration
If your numbers support settlement, enforcement may pause during review.
6. Appeals
If the IRS didn’t follow proper procedure, the levy can be overturned.
What the IRS Needs Before Releasing a Levy
Expect to provide:
- Recent pay stubs
- Bank statements
- Lease/mortgage documents
- Utility bills
- Insurance statements
- Car loan info
- Childcare receipts
- Medical documentation
- Proof of dependents
This tells the IRS your real-life financial story.
Why McCauley Law Offices Gets Fast Results
The firm understands:
- How local wages and expenses compare to IRS standards
- How PA/NJ families structure their financial lives
- How revenue officers in the region work
- How to present hardship clearly and concisely
Many taxpayers qualify for faster relief than they expect — but only with the right documentation.
Final Thought
A wage garnishment feels like a financial emergency because it is.
But you don’t have to face it alone, and you don’t have to let it drag on for months.
With the right approach, McCauley Law Offices can often stop the levy quickly and put a long-term strategy in place to protect your income permanently.
