How to Find Out How Much You Owe on a Wage Garnishment
When an employer receives a wage garnishment order for one of its employees, the employer must withhold the required amount until the issuing agency releases the garnishment, which is usually when the debt is paid off. Your employer withholds the garnishment based on your payroll frequency and submits the amounts to the party listed on the paperwork. When a garnishment is issued, the issuing agency usually sends the debtor a copy of the garnishment; in some cases, the employer is required to give the employee a copy. You can figure out your balance based on the total amount due.
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Instructions
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Check the garnishment paperwork for the total garnishment amount.
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Add your total garnishment payments so far. Many employers include year-to-date garnishment deductions on employees’ pay stubs.
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Calculate payments yourself, if applicable, by subtracting the required amount per pay period from your disposable earnings. For example, the paperwork says 10 percent of your disposable income is subject to garnishment. Determine disposable earnings by subtracting legally required deductions, such as payroll taxes, from your gross pay. Then multiply the percentage by your net disposable income to arrive at your garnishment amount.
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Subtract total garnishment deductions from the total amount due to arrive at what you owe.
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Tips & Warnings
The payee listed on the paperwork can give you the garnishment balance. If the garnishment is from a legal entity that does not need a court order to garnish, such as the Internal Revenue Service or U.S. Department of Education, contact the agency directly for your balance. For court-ordered garnishments, you may contact the issuing court.
References
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