07 / 27 / 12

Myth? "If The IRS Garnishes My Wages, They Have to Leave Me With a "Livable" Wage.

Answer:

False. In wage garnishment situations, the IRS has a table that they refer to (IRS Publication 1494) - that determines how much money they will leave in your paycheck per week.

Many people believe that the IRS takes a certain percentage of your pay, which is simply not true.  The only factors that determine how much of your paycheck is left over for you and your family after a garnishment is your marital status, the number of exceptions that you  claim and whether you're 65 years old and/or blind.  For example, if you're married and you file a joint return and claim 2 tax exemptions, the IRS will allow you to keep $336.54, regardless of how much you earn.

It makes no difference if you make $5000/week or $500/week. You take home $336.54 and the IRS keeps the rest until your tax debt is paid off.

 

***Bryson Law Firm, LLC is a Louisiana law firm focusing 100% of our practice on helping people and businesses solve their IRS and Louisiana state tax problems. We have offices throughout the state in Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport.**