All 50 States · Updated 2026
Wage Garnishment Calculator
*Assumes an estimated 15% deduction for mandatory taxes (Federal, State, FICA) to approximate disposable earnings. Actual disposable earnings under 15 U.S.C. § 1672 depend on your legally required payroll withholdings.
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Applied Statutory Rule:
ℹ️ How IRS Wage Levies Are Calculated (IRC § 6334)
Federal tax levies do not use percentage caps. Instead, the IRS determines an exempt amount using Publication 1494 tables based on your standard deduction, filing status, and number of dependents. Everything above your exempt amount is sent to the IRS.
When an employer receives Form 668-W, they will ask you to complete Parts 3, 4, and 5 to state your dependents. Consult IRS Publication 1494 for exact tables.
Options If Facing Wage Garnishment
- Claim State Exemptions: If garnishment leaves you unable to cover basic necessities (food, housing, healthcare), submit an exemption claim with your local court clerk.
- Verify Withholding Math: Ensure your employer's payroll office calculated disposable earnings correctly by deducting mandatory taxes before applying percentage limits.
- Seek Legal Aid: Contact a licensed attorney or a local legal aid organization (LawHelp.org) for guidance tailored to your specific case.
Statutory Citation:
Get your answer in 4 steps
Garnishment calculations assess your income across multiple legal layers to find the exact cap on your paycheck.
Federal Floor
We establish the baseline federal shield of 30x the minimum wage ($217.50).
State Rules
We check if your state uses custom formulas or local minimum wages to protect more.
Debt Modifiers
We apply specialized legal limits for taxes, student loans, or child support.
Your Verdict
Get an instant answer showing exactly how much can be taken and options to stop it.
Select your state to view rules
State rules override federal floors. Select a state to view specific local guidelines, minimum wage offsets, exemptions, and comparison tables.
Understanding Wage Garnishment Limits and Your Legal Protections
Receiving a wage garnishment notice can feel overwhelming, but federal and state laws place strict boundaries on how much money a creditor can take from your paycheck. Creditors cannot simply take your entire earnings or leave you without enough money to cover basic survival expenses. By understanding how statutory formulas work, you can verify your payroll deductions and assert your legal exemptions.
How Disposable Earnings Are Calculated
A common misconception is that wage garnishment percentages apply to your total gross salary. Under federal law (15 U.S.C. § 1672), garnishments apply only to disposable earnings. Disposable earnings represent the compensation remaining after all legally mandated taxes have been withheld.
Mandatory deductions include federal income tax, state income tax, local taxes, and FICA (Social Security and Medicare). Voluntary deductions—such as employer 401(k) retirement contributions, health and dental insurance premiums, and union dues—do not reduce disposable income for garnishment calculations. Our calculator estimates mandatory taxes at 15% to provide a baseline calculation, but your exact disposable earnings depend on your actual tax withholding status.
The Federal Baseline Under Title III (CCPA)
Title III of the Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. § 1673) sets the national ceiling for ordinary consumer debt garnishments, including credit cards, personal loans, and medical bills. Under federal law, the weekly garnishment cannot exceed the lesser of two calculations:
- 25% of your weekly disposable earnings; or
- The amount by which your weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage (30 × $7.25 = $217.50 per week).
This dual test protects low-wage workers. If your weekly disposable income is $217.50 or less, federal law prohibits any garnishment for consumer debts. If your weekly disposable pay is between $217.50 and $290.00, the creditor can take only the amount above $217.50. Once your disposable pay surpasses $290.00, the 25% cap applies because it results in a smaller deduction than the excess over $217.50.
How State Protections Override Federal Baselines
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1677, federal law acts as a floor, not a ceiling. When state law provides greater protection to an employee, the employer and levying officer must follow the state rule. Across the country, state protections generally fall into three categories:
Four states—Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and South Carolina—prohibit wage garnishment for judgment-based consumer debts altogether. In these states, creditors cannot attach wages for credit card balances or medical bills, though non-consumer obligations like taxes and child support remain collectible.
States like California, New York, and Illinois enforce customized statutory formulas. California (SB 1477 / CCP § 706.050) caps garnishment at the lesser of 20% of disposable earnings or 40% of the amount exceeding 48 times the state minimum wage. New York (CPLR § 5231) limits deductions to the least of 10% of gross pay, 25% of disposable earnings, or excess over 30 times the applicable minimum wage. Illinois (735 ILCS 5/12-803) caps deductions at 15% of gross earnings.
Several states (such as Florida, Missouri, and Nebraska) offer strong exemptions for debtors who provide primary financial support for a child or dependent. In Florida (Fla. Stat. § 222.11), a qualified head of family is 100% exempt from consumer debt garnishment on disposable earnings up to $750 per week.
Rules for Priority Debts: Child Support, Taxes, and Student Loans
The standard 25% consumer debt cap does not apply to priority debts. Specific statutory limits govern these obligations:
- Child Support and Alimony: Under federal law, up to 50% of disposable earnings can be garnished if you are supporting another spouse or child, or up to 60% if you are not. These limits increase by 5% (to 55% or 65%) if support payments are more than 12 weeks in arrears.
- Defaulted Federal Student Loans: Under the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1095a), the federal government or guaranty agencies can garnish up to 15% of disposable pay without a court judgment.
- IRS Tax Levies: The Internal Revenue Service is not bound by Title III percentage limits. Under 26 U.S.C. § 6334, the IRS exempts a fixed statutory amount based on your standard deduction and filing status, taking the remainder until the liability is satisfied. Specific exemption amounts are published annually in IRS Publication 1494.
What to Do If Your Wages Are Garnished
If you receive an earnings withholding notice from your employer, examine the paperwork right away. Review the court judgment details, check whether your employer calculated disposable earnings correctly, and find out if you qualify for state hardship exemptions. Many states allow you to file a Claim of Exemption or request a court hearing if the garnishment prevents you from paying for basic housing, food, or medical care.
Common Questions
What is wage garnishment?▾
Wage garnishment is when a court orders your employer to withhold a portion of your paycheck to pay off a debt. It usually happens after a creditor sues you and wins, though the government doesn't need a court order for things like taxes, student loans, or child support.
How much of my paycheck can be garnished?▾
Under federal law, the most a creditor can take is 25% of your weekly disposable earnings. If you make less, they can only garnish the amount that exceeds 30 times the federal minimum wage ($217.50). Many states have much stricter rules that protect more of your income, and a few ban consumer garnishments entirely.
What is disposable income for garnishment?▾
Disposable income for garnishment isn't the money you have left after buying groceries and paying rent. Instead, it's the amount left in your paycheck after legally required deductions—like taxes, Social Security, and state unemployment insurance—are taken out. Voluntary deductions, like retirement contributions or health insurance, don't count and won't lower the amount that can be garnished.
Can you have two garnishments at once?▾
Yes, you can have multiple garnishments at the same time, but there's a strict legal limit on the total amount they can take. If a creditor is already garnishing 25% of your disposable income, a second creditor must wait in line until the first one is paid off. However, certain high-priority debts like child support or unpaid taxes can bypass this rule and be garnished simultaneously.
Can my employer fire me for wage garnishment?▾
No, federal law protects you from being fired if you only have a single wage garnishment. Your employer can't let you go just because they have to process one order. However, you lose this protection if you're hit with multiple separate garnishments from different creditors.
How do I stop wage garnishment?▾
You can stop a garnishment by paying off the debt or negotiating a payment plan with the creditor. You'll also have the option to file a claim of exemption in court if the garnishment makes it impossible to pay for basic living expenses. As a last resort, filing for bankruptcy stops most garnishments immediately.
How long does wage garnishment last?▾
A wage garnishment usually lasts until your debt is fully paid off, including any interest and fees. It'll also stop early if you settle the debt for less, file for bankruptcy, or if the creditor's court order expires. If you change jobs, the garnishment stops temporarily, but the creditor will likely track down your new employer to start the process again.
Does wage garnishment affect my credit score?▾
A wage garnishment order itself won't show up directly on your credit report. However, the missed payments and charge-offs that led to the lawsuit have likely already damaged your credit score. The creditor may also report the debt as "unpaid," which keeps dragging your score down until you resolve it.
What types of debt can be garnished?▾
Ordinary consumer debts, like credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans, require a court judgment before your wages can be touched. On the other hand, government debts like unpaid taxes, federal student loans, and child support can be garnished administratively without a prior lawsuit.