Wage Garnishment Limits (2026)
A wage garnishment is a court or agency order directing your employer to send part of your paycheck to a creditor, the government, or a former spouse. Federal law caps how much can be taken, but the rules differ by debt type, and state law can tighten them further. This 2026 guide explains the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) limits, how garnishment interacts with your paystub, and what to do if a garnishment looks too large.
The Federal Cap: 25% of Disposable Earnings
Under the CCPA, total garnishment for ordinary consumer debts (credit cards, medical, personal loans) cannot exceed the lesser of 25% of your disposable earnings, or the amount by which weekly disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25 in 2026, so $217.50). "Disposable earnings" are pay after legally required deductions — federal, state, local tax, and FICA — but not voluntary ones like 401(k). The paystub guide helps you find the lines.
Worked Example
If disposable earnings are $800/week, 25% = $200. The alternative test: $800 − $217.50 = $582.50; 25% of that is $145.63. The lesser applies, so the cap is $145.63. Two different formulas, and the law takes the smaller — protecting low earners more. Higher earners are usually capped at the straight 25%.
Support Orders: Much Higher
Child and spousal support garnishments are exempt from the 25% cap. If you are supporting a second family, up to 50% of disposable earnings can be taken; if you are not, up to 60%. An additional 5% applies if you are more than 12 weeks in arrears, reaching 65%. These are by far the largest legal garnishments. The gross vs net guide shows the hit to take-home.
Federal Tax and Student Loans
IRS federal tax levies are not subject to the CCPA percentage; the exempt amount follows IRS Publication 1494 tables based on filing status and dependents. Federal student-loan garnishments are capped at 15% of disposable pay under the HEA, with a higher protected amount. Both bypass the 25% consumer cap. The tax guide frames the IRS side.
Multiple Garnishments at Once
If several consumer creditors garnish, the total still cannot exceed 25% of disposable earnings; the law pro-rates among them. Support orders, however, take priority and can stack on top within their higher limits. An employer cannot fire you for a single consumer garnishment (protection against termination), though multiple support orders are an exception.
State Law Can Be Stricter
Many states lower the cap below federal — some limit garnishment to 10%–15% of disposable pay, or protect more of low-wage earners. A few (like Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina) largely prohibit consumer-wage garnishment except for support, taxes, and student loans. Check your state; the stricter limit wins. The Texas guide notes its strong protection.
Garnishment on Your Paystub
A garnishment appears as a post-tax deduction line; the amount must stay within the legal cap. If it looks larger than 25% of disposable earnings (or above the support limits), question it immediately with payroll and the creditor. The paystub guide explains reading the line and the YTD totals.
What to Do If It Looks Wrong
First, confirm the debt and the order are yours. Then verify the math against the CCPA (or your stricter state rule). If it exceeds the cap, notify payroll and the issuing court/agency in writing; you can file a challenge (a "claim of exemption"). Consider a payment plan to lift the garnishment. The Net Pay Calculator models your remaining take-home.
Worked: A Consumer Garnishment
Disposable earnings (after tax and FICA) of $900/week. The lesser of 25% ($225) or the amount over 30 x $7.25 = $217.50 ($682.50 x 25% = $170.63) is $170.63. That is the legal cap; the creditor cannot take more. If the stub shows $225, it exceeds the law — challenge it. The Net Pay Calculator models your remaining take-home after the lawful amount.
Support Orders, in Numbers
For child support, the cap jumps to 50%–60% of disposable earnings (65% with arrears), far above consumer debt. A worker with $900 disposable and no second family could see up to $540 taken for support — legal, and priority over consumer garnishments. The gross vs net guide shows how sharply this cuts take-home, and why planning around it matters.
Multiple Garnishments
If several consumer creditors garnish, the total still cannot exceed 25% of disposable earnings; the law pro-rates among them. Support orders stack on top within their higher limits. An employer cannot fire you for one consumer garnishment — protection that does not extend to support orders or multiple garnishments. Know your rights; the paystub guide helps you verify the line.
State Law Can Tighten the Cap
Many states lower the consumer cap below 25% or protect more of low earners; some (Texas, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina) largely bar consumer garnishment except for support, taxes, and student loans. The stricter limit wins. If you are in a protective state, a consumer creditor's threat may be unenforceable — check the Texas guide and your own state's rule before agreeing to anything.
Disposable Earnings Defined
Disposable earnings are pay after legally required deductions — federal, state, and local tax and FICA — but not voluntary ones like 401(k) or union dues. Garnishment math uses this lower base, which protects more of your pay than gross would suggest. The paystub guide helps you find the lines so you can compute the cap yourself.
Multiple Consumer Creditors
If several consumer creditors garnish, the total still cannot exceed 25% of disposable earnings; the law pro-rates among them by date or proportion. Support orders, however, take priority and can stack on top within their higher limits. An employer cannot fire you for one consumer garnishment — protection that does not extend to support orders or multiple garnishments.
Tax and Student-Loan Levies
IRS federal tax levies follow Publication 1494 tables by filing status and dependents, not the 25% cap; federal student-loan garnishments are capped at 15% of disposable pay. Both bypass the consumer cap. The tax guide frames the IRS side; the Net Pay Calculator models your remaining take-home after the lawful amount.
Challenging an Excess
Confirm the debt is yours, then verify the math against the federal (or stricter state) cap. If it exceeds the limit, notify payroll and the issuing court or agency in writing and file a claim of exemption. Some states bar consumer garnishment almost entirely, making a threat unenforceable. The Texas guide and your state's rule are worth checking before you agree to anything.
What Counts as Disposable
Disposable earnings are pay after legally required deductions — federal, state, and local tax and FICA — but not voluntary ones like 401(k) or union dues. Garnishment math uses this lower base, which protects more of your pay than gross would suggest. The paystub guide helps you find the lines so you can compute the cap yourself and spot an error.
The 25% Consumer Cap
For ordinary consumer debt, the most that can be taken is the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25, so $217.50/week). The higher protection wins. The tax guide is separate, but the Net Pay Calculator models your remaining take-home after the lawful amount.
Support Orders and Priorities
Child and spousal support can take up to 50%–60% of disposable pay and stacks above the consumer cap, with priority over other creditors. The 1099 guide is unrelated but shows why written terms matter; here, the order type decides how much survives. The state wage comparison is separate, but know your state's support table.
IRS and Student-Loan Garnishments
IRS federal tax levies follow Publication 1494 tables by filing status and dependents, not the 25% cap; federal student-loan garnishments are capped at 15% of disposable pay. Both bypass the consumer cap. The tax guide frames the IRS side; the Net Pay Calculator models your remaining take-home after the lawful amount is removed.
How to Dispute an Over-Withholding
Confirm the debt is yours, then verify the math against the federal (or stricter state) cap. If it exceeds the limit, notify payroll and the issuing court or agency in writing and file a claim of exemption. Some states bar consumer garnishment almost entirely, making a threat unenforceable. The Texas guide and your state's rule are worth checking before you agree to anything.
A Garnishment Worked Example
A worker earning $800/week disposable has the federal minimum-week figure of 30 x $7.25 = $217.50. The lesser of 25% of $800 ($200) or the amount over $217.50 ($582.50) applies — so the cap is $200/week. A creditor taking $250 is over the limit. The Net Pay Calculator models remaining take-home after the lawful $200; the paystub guide helps you find the disposable-earnings base to verify the math yourself.
Your Response Checklist
If garnished, confirm: is the debt yours? Is the amount within the 25% (or stricter state) cap? Is it a priority support order or a consumer debt? Then notify payroll and the court in writing of any excess and file a claim of exemption. The tax guide is separate but useful if an IRS levy applies its own table; the Texas guide notes states that bar most consumer garnishment, making a threat unenforceable where you live.
Multiple Creditors and Job Protection
If several consumer creditors garnish, the total still cannot exceed 25% of disposable earnings; the law pro-rates among them. An employer cannot fire you for one consumer garnishment — protection that does not extend to support orders or multiple garnishments. The 1099 guide is unrelated but shows why written terms matter; here, knowing the firing rule gives you leverage to dispute an illegal over-withholding without fear.
Myths About Garnishment
Myths: that a creditor can take most of your pay (consumer debt is capped at 25% of disposable earnings); that gross pay is the base (only disposable — after tax and FICA — counts); and that your employer can fire you for one consumer garnishment (illegal). The paystub guide helps you find the disposable base; the FICA guide confirms what comes out before garnishment math, so the protected amount is larger than a gross-based guess would suggest.
Next Steps and the Calculators
Verify any order against the cap with the garnishment guide and your stub, then notify payroll and the court in writing of any excess and file a claim of exemption. The Texas guide notes states that bar most consumer garnishment; the Net Pay Calculator models your remaining take-home after the lawful amount so you can budget the real number instead of fearing the worst.
Key Takeaways
For consumer debts, federal law caps garnishment at the lesser of 25% of disposable earnings or the amount over 30x the minimum wage — and states can be stricter (some ban it). Support orders are far higher (50%–65%), and tax/student-loan levies follow their own rules. Check the line on your stub against the cap; challenge any excess. Model the impact with the Net Pay Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Reading
Figures are 2026 estimates for guidance only. See the 50 State Wage Guides for local detail.