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Wage Garnishment
Stop IRS wage levies that are taking money from your paycheck.
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One honest conversation. You'll hang up knowing exactly what the IRS can — and can't — do to you, and how we'll stop them.
Call (877) 829-5267Tax Attorney · Villanova University School of Law · Admitted in Delaware, New Jersey, United States Tax Court
The Truth About Wage Garnishment — And What To Do Right Now
An IRS wage garnishment (officially called a "wage levy") takes money directly from your paycheck before you even see it. Unlike other creditors who need a court order, the IRS can garnish your wages administratively — and they can take up to 70% of your disposable income, leaving barely enough to survive.
How Does an IRS Wage Garnishment Work?
When the IRS issues a wage levy, they send Form 668-W directly to your employer. Your employer is legally required to comply — they have no choice. The IRS determines how much you're allowed to keep based on your filing status and number of dependents, using IRS Publication 1494. Everything above that exempt amount is sent to the IRS.
Unlike a one-time bank levy, a wage garnishment is continuous. It stays in effect until the debt is paid in full, the IRS releases it, or the collection statute expires. That's why quick action is critical.
How Much Can the IRS Take From My Paycheck?
The IRS uses a formula based on the standard deduction and personal exemptions for your filing status. In practice, this means:
- A single filer with no dependents may keep as little as $1,100/month
- Married filing jointly with 2 children may keep around $2,200/month
- Everything above the exempt amount goes to the IRS — that can be 50-70% of your gross pay
For most people, this makes it impossible to cover basic living expenses — rent, utilities, food, and transportation.
How We Stop Wage Garnishments
McCauley Law Offices stops wage garnishments quickly — often within 24-48 hours. Here's how we do it:
- Contact the IRS immediately to assert your rights and request a release
- Demonstrate economic hardship — if the garnishment prevents you from meeting basic living expenses, the IRS must release it
- Set up an installment agreement — replacing the garnishment with a manageable monthly payment
- File a Collection Due Process (CDP) hearing request — this legally requires the IRS to stop the garnishment while your case is reviewed
- Submit an Offer in Compromise — if you qualify, this suspends all collection activity including garnishments
Your Legal Rights During a Wage Garnishment
Before the IRS can garnish your wages, they must:
- Send you a Final Notice of Intent to Levy (LT11 or Letter 1058) at least 30 days before the levy
- Give you the opportunity to request a Collection Due Process hearing
- Have properly assessed the tax and sent a notice and demand for payment
If the IRS failed to follow these procedures, the garnishment may be invalid and we can have it released immediately.
People Just Like You Have Sat In This Exact Chair
They were terrified. They were ashamed. They thought they were the only one. Then they made one phone call — and everything changed.
Construction Worker Losing 65% of Pay
A construction worker was having 65% of each paycheck garnished, leaving him unable to pay rent. We stopped the garnishment within 48 hours and negotiated an installment agreement at $400/month.
Teacher Facing Devastating Paycheck Reduction
A Haddonfield teacher had her wages garnished for $18,000 in back taxes. The IRS was taking $1,400/month from her $3,800 take-home pay. We demonstrated hardship and replaced the garnishment with a $300/month installment agreement.
Self-Employed Contractor Served at Job Site
A contractor's client received a levy notice from the IRS, threatening to seize payments owed to him. We contacted the IRS within hours, set up a compliance plan, and prevented the levy from being enforced.
That Letter In Your Hand? Here's What It Really Means.
The IRS writes notices in code on purpose. If any of these landed in your mailbox, wage garnishment is exactly how we fight back — and the clock is already ticking.
This is the absolute final warning. The IRS will begin seizing your wages, bank accounts, and property within 30 days.
Deadline: 30 days
This is a final notice before the IRS seizes your assets. They intend to levy (take) your state tax refund and may seize other assets.
Deadline: 30 days
CP90 (individuals) and CP297 (businesses) are the IRS's statutory Final Notice of Intent to Levy. After 30 days the IRS can legally seize wages, bank accounts, retirement funds, and Social Security payments.
Deadline: 30 days to request CDP hearing
Every Day You Wait, The IRS Wins A Little More.
Penalties stack. Interest compounds. Legal options quietly disappear. One free call ends the spiral.
Exactly How We Take This Off Your Shoulders
The hardest step is the first one. Everything after that, we carry for you. No surprises. No runaround. No lectures.
- 1
Identify the garnishment source
Continuous wage levy, contractor 1099 levy, or Social Security levy — each has different release mechanics. We confirm what was served and where.
- 2
Quantify the hardship in IRS terms
We translate your real-world rent, food, transportation, and medical costs into the IRS Collection Financial Standards format that drives release decisions.
- 3
Request and confirm the release
We fax Form 668-D (or equivalent) to your employer or payer and confirm receipt — paychecks should normalize the next cycle.
- 4
Address the underlying balance
A release without a resolution invites the next levy. We close out with an installment agreement, CNC, or OIC based on your facts.
- 5
Protect against re-levy
We monitor the account for the next 12 months, respond immediately to any CP504/LT11, and keep the agreement in good standing.
Trusted by Thousands of Taxpayers
Real results from real clients
Robert M.
Sandra L.
Michael T.
Jennifer K.
David R.
Maria G.
Thomas W.
Patricia H.
James C.
Robert M.
Sandra L.
Michael T.
Jennifer K.
David R.
Maria G.
Thomas W.
Patricia H.
James C.
Robert M.
Sandra L.
Michael T.
Jennifer K.
David R.
Maria G.
Thomas W.
Patricia H.
James C.
Robert M.
Sandra L.
Michael T.
Jennifer K.
David R.
Maria G.
Thomas W.
Patricia H.
James C.
"McCauley Law resolved my $180,000 IRS debt for a fraction of what I owed. I was facing wage garnishment and bank levies — they stopped everything and negotiated an incredible settlement."
Robert M.
Philadelphia, PA
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The Questions Keeping You Up At Night — Answered
The Paperwork Behind Wage Garnishment
Step-by-step guides — including who files, mailing addresses, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
Other Ways We Shut The IRS Down
Offer in Compromise
Settle your tax debt for less than what you owe through IRS settlement programs.
Installment Agreement
Set up manageable monthly payment plans to pay off your tax debt over time.
Currently Not Collectible
Prove financial hardship to temporarily halt IRS collection activity.
Penalty Abatement
Remove or reduce IRS penalties through first-time abatement or reasonable cause.
One Phone Call. Or Another Sleepless Night.
Stop Letting The IRS Own Your Mornings.
You already know what happens if you do nothing. Pick up the phone for a free, confidential conversation with a real tax attorney — 30+ years inside the IRS playbook — and finally start fighting back.
Call (877) 829-5267 NowPrimary Sources & Authority
We cite the underlying IRS publications and statutes so you can verify everything on this page.