The most financially-catastrophic IRS debt collection method is on the rise. In fiscal year 2007 (Oct. 1, 2006 through Sept. 20, 2007), the IRS issued nearly 3.8 million wage garnishments and levies combined against taxpayers. That number increased 17 times since fiscal year 2000 when just over 250,000 were issued, according to the Fiscal Year 2007 IRS Enforcement and Service Statistics.