The IRS is Garnishing My Wages, How Can I Stop Them?
When the IRS starts taking money directly from your paycheck, it can feel like you’ve lost control of your finances. Each payday shrinks, bills stack up, and daily necessities suddenly feel out of reach. The stress is immediate, but the situation is not hopeless. If you are searching for how to stop the IRS from garnishing wages, there are proven options available to protect your income and put an end to the levy.
If you’re facing a garnishment or are already having your wages garnished, contact us at Seattle Legal Services today. We can help you.
Key Takeaways
- Paying in full stops garnishment immediately.
- The IRS must stop the garnishment if it was done in error or in cases of extreme financial hardship.
- Setting up an approved payment plan may allow the garnishment to stop.
- The IRS can’t garnish your wages if you’re on currently-not-collectible status.
- The IRS will also stop a garnishment if you get approved for an offer in compromise.
- If you request a collection due process hearing after receiving a final levy notice, the IRS will not be able to move forward with the garnishment.
How IRS Wage Garnishment Works
IRS wage garnishment is different from other types of debt collection. The IRS does not need a court order to take part of your paycheck. Once you receive a Final Notice of Intent to Levy and do not respond by the deadline, the IRS can contact your employer directly. Your employer must then withhold a portion of your wages and send it to the IRS.
The garnishment stays in place until the full balance is paid or the IRS approves another resolution option, such as a payment plan or hardship status. For taxpayers wondering how to stop IRS wage garnishment, the answer is to take action quickly. Ignoring notices only prolongs the problem, while pursuing the right relief option can put an end to the levy and restore your paycheck.
Ways to Stop IRS Wage Garnishment Legally
Here are the main options if you want to prevent a garnishment from moving forward or stop it once it’s in progress.
Pay the Balance in Full
The fastest way to stop IRS garnishment is to pay the tax debt in full. Once payment is processed, the IRS notifies your employer to release the levy immediately. For many people, though, paying in full is not realistic.
Prove Error
The IRS must immediately stop the garnishment if it was filed in error. That could happen, for example, if the IRS didn’t send you the correct notices before starting the garnishment.
Set Up an Installment Agreement
If you cannot pay everything at once, an installment agreement allows you to make manageable monthly payments. After the IRS approves your plan, garnishment is usually lifted within days to a couple of weeks.
This option is one of the most common ways taxpayers stop IRS wage garnishments. However, at this point, you cannot just sign into your IRS account, set up a payment plan, and expect the garnishment to stop. You must contact the IRS or work with a tax attorney to ensure they agree to stop the garnishment once you set up payments.
Request Currently Not Collectible (CNC) Status
If paying anything at all would cause financial hardship, you may qualify for Currently Not Collectible status. If you get approved, the IRS will pause collection efforts, including garnishment, until your financial situation improves. While not permanent, it provides relief and time to regroup.
Submit an Offer in Compromise (OIC)
An Offer in Compromise lets you settle your debt for less than you owe if you can prove that paying in full would create significant hardship. While approval takes longer, once accepted, the garnishment ends, and you resolve your debt for a reduced amount.
Request a Collection Due Process (CDP) or Equivalent Hearing
If you act within 30 days of receiving your final notice, requesting a CDP hearing immediately prevents the garnishment from moving forward. This gives you the chance to challenge the IRS’s decision or negotiate another form of relief. Missing the deadline limits this option.
However, if you miss the deadline, you have the right to request an equivalent hearing for up to a year. That request doesn’t prevent the garnishment from moving forward, but it allows you to set up a meeting (aka the hearing) where you can explain that you want the garnishment stopped, show how it’s affecting you, and propose payment options.
How Fast Can It Be Stopped?
Acting quickly is key. The faster you pursue one of these options, the sooner your paycheck is restored.
| Option | Stops Garnishment? | Speed of Relief | Long-Term Fix? | IRS Approval Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pay in Full | Yes | Immediate | Yes | No |
| Installment Agreement | Yes | Days to weeks | Yes | Yes |
| Currently Not Collectible | Yes | Varies after approval | Temporary | Yes |
| Offer in Compromise | Yes | 1–3 weeks (once accepted) | Yes | Yes |
| CDP Hearing (timely filed) | Yes (temporary) | Immediate | Depends | Yes |
Why You Should Talk to a Tax Attorney
Figuring out how to stop the IRS from garnishing your wages often comes down to timing and strategy. While you can request relief options on your own, working with a tax attorney can make a big difference in how quickly the garnishment is lifted and which solution is approved.
An attorney reviews your financial situation and determines whether a payment plan, hardship status, or settlement offer is the best fit. They also handle all communication with the IRS, which not only reduces your stress but can prevent costly mistakes. In many cases, having professional representation speeds up the release of garnishment and ensures you do not overlook options you qualify for.
For taxpayers who are already struggling to cover bills, having an experienced advocate can be the fastest way to regain control of their paycheck and move forward with a long-term resolution.
Mistakes That Make Garnishment Worse
When your wages are being garnished, avoiding the wrong moves is just as important as taking the proper steps. One of the biggest mistakes is ignoring IRS notices. Garnishment only happens after repeated warnings, and if you disregard them, the IRS assumes you are unwilling to cooperate and will take more decisive action.
Another common misstep is trying to negotiate without a plan. The IRS follows strict rules, and calling without a clear strategy or supporting financial documents often leads to rejection. It is also important not to assume that the IRS follows the same limits as other creditors. Federal tax garnishments can take a much larger share of your paycheck, sometimes leaving you with very little to cover essentials.
Finally, waiting until you are desperate can limit your options. The earlier you act, the more solutions are available to you. Taking action right away is the most effective way to stop wage garnishment IRS has in place and prevent weeks of lost wages from draining your finances.
A Path Out of Wage Garnishment
Watching the IRS take money straight from your paycheck can be frustrating, stressful, and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to continue. If you are searching for how to stop the IRS from garnishing wages, there are proven strategies that can put your paycheck back in your hands.
Whether it is a payment plan that lifts the garnishment quickly, hardship relief that protects you when money is tight, or a negotiated settlement that reduces what you owe, acting fast is the key. The sooner you respond, the sooner the IRS can be forced to release its hold.
If you are dealing with an IRS wage garnishment in Washington or any other part of the country, you do not have to face it alone. The attorneys at Seattle Legal Services PLLC know how to step in, communicate directly with the IRS, and push for immediate relief. We have helped countless Seattle-area taxpayers stop garnishments, protect their income, and finally move forward without the constant stress of the IRS in their wallets. With the right legal team on your side, you can retake control of your finances and focus on building your future instead of fighting the past.
Contact Seattle Legal Services, PLLC at 206-895-7268 to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop IRS wage garnishment fast?
The fastest way is to pay the balance in full, but that is not realistic for most people. Setting up an installment agreement or requesting hardship relief can often stop IRS garnishments within days once approved. Acting quickly is the best way to speed up relief.
Will a payment plan stop garnishment?
Possibly, but only if the IRS agrees to stop the garnishment when you set up the plan. Once the IRS accepts your installment agreement, it typically releases the wage garnishment and allows you to make monthly payments instead. Until the plan is approved, however, garnishment will continue—so it is important to get started right away.
How much of my paycheck can the IRS take?
Unlike private creditors, the IRS is not limited by state wage garnishment laws. They calculate how much to leave you based on your filing status and number of dependents, and then take the rest. This can leave you with far less than you expect, which is why stopping garnishment quickly is so important.
Can I get garnished wages back?
In most cases, once money has been sent to the IRS, it cannot be refunded. The best strategy is to act promptly upon receiving notice, preventing garnishment from starting in the first place—or to move quickly once it begins, to have it released.
What happens if I miss the CDP deadline?
If you do not request a Collection Due Process hearing within 30 days of the Final Notice, the IRS can move forward with garnishment. But you can still request an equivalent hearing.