Estimate Your Protected Income and Garnishment Exposure
Most taxpayers do not realize how aggressive the IRS can be with wage garnishment until their take-home pay suddenly drops. Unlike private creditors, the IRS can garnish wages administratively after the IRS-required notice periods have expired.
This IRS Wage Garnishment Calculator helps you understand how your income, filing status, and dependents affect how much the IRS must leave you — and how much it can legally take — before wage levy enforcement becomes financially overwhelming.
Use the calculator to understand your exposure before wage garnishment disrupts your finances. If you're already behind on taxes, reviewing IRS Payment Plan Options may help prevent enforcement.
IRS wage garnishment, also called a wage levy, occurs when the IRS legally requires your employer to withhold wages and send them directly to the government to satisfy unpaid tax debt.
This calculator reflects how wage garnishment actually works under federal tax law — not generic estimates.
If your results show significant exposure, timing matters.
Based on your inputs, the calculator may indicate whether certain IRS resolution options could still apply, such as:
Most people seek help only after wage garnishment has already started. At that point:
If your results show meaningful wage garnishment exposure, delaying action usually benefits the IRS — not you.
Understanding your numbers early helps you make informed decisions before each paycheck is affected.
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