Federal law limits how much a creditor can take from your paycheck. This calculator applies the Title III Consumer Credit Protection Act formula to your exact pay figures and shows your legal garnishment limit - and how much you keep - for every pay period.
Pay details
Mandatory deductions
"Disposable earnings" for garnishment purposes is gross pay minus mandatory deductions only. Voluntary deductions (401k, health insurance) are NOT subtracted.
Debt type being garnished
Filing for bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay that stops wage garnishment immediately - often within 24 hours of filing. A bankruptcy attorney can assess whether filing makes sense for your situation. Free consultation.
Federal law under Title III of the Consumer Credit Protection Act limits wage garnishment to the lesser of 2 amounts: 25% of your disposable earnings per pay period, or the amount by which your disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage ($7.25 x 30 = $217.50 per week).
"Disposable earnings" is your gross pay minus mandatory deductions only - federal and state income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. Voluntary deductions like 401(k) contributions and health insurance premiums are not subtracted, which often surprises filers.
For most workers earning above minimum wage, the 25% cap is the binding limit. But for lower-wage workers, the 30x minimum wage floor often provides more protection than 25%. This calculator applies both tests and uses the lower figure - exactly as required by law.
If garnishment is already hitting your paycheck, bankruptcy stops it immediately. Use the Chapter 7 means test calculator to see if your income qualifies for a fast Chapter 7 discharge that would wipe out the underlying debt.
Yes - the type of debt being collected determines the applicable cap. Consumer debt judgments (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans) are subject to the standard 25% / 30x minimum wage formula.
Child support and alimony have higher caps: up to 50% of disposable earnings if you're supporting another spouse or child, and up to 60% if you're not. If you're more than 12 weeks behind, the cap increases by 5 percentage points in both cases.
Federal student loan garnishments are capped at 15% of disposable earnings without a court order. Federal and state tax levies follow different rules altogether - the IRS uses a "exempt amount" table based on filing status and dependents, and the remainder is subject to levy. An attorney advises on tax levy disputes specifically. Check your discharge options with the debt discharge estimator to see if the underlying debt can be eliminated.
Not for a single garnishment. Title III expressly prohibits employers from terminating an employee whose wages are garnished for 1 debt. The protection doesn't extend to multiple simultaneous garnishments.
Violating the anti-termination provision is a federal offense. An employer who fires you for a single garnishment faces fines up to $1,000 and up to 1 year imprisonment. If you've been fired, consult an employment attorney immediately.
Filing for bankruptcy - Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 - triggers an automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362 the instant the petition is filed. The stay immediately prohibits all collection actions, including wage garnishment.
Your bankruptcy attorney notifies your employer's payroll department of the filing. Garnishments typically stop within 1 to 3 business days. Any amounts garnished after the filing date must be returned to you.
In Chapter 7, the underlying consumer debt is discharged in 4 to 6 months, eliminating the garnishment permanently. In Chapter 13, the debt is restructured into a manageable plan payment - still stopping the garnishment immediately. Use the bankruptcy chapter selector to compare which chapter handles your full debt picture most effectively.
You have 4 main options. First, pay the debt in full - this terminates the garnishment order. Second, negotiate a settlement or payment plan directly with the creditor, which some will accept to avoid the ongoing cost of enforcement.
Third, challenge the garnishment in court if it exceeds legal limits, was obtained without proper notice, or the underlying judgment is flawed. Fourth, file for bankruptcy, which stops it immediately and - in Chapter 7 - may eliminate the debt entirely.
If the garnishment is for child support or taxes, bankruptcy options are more limited. Child support obligations survive bankruptcy. Tax debts may survive unless they meet the age and filing requirements for discharge. A bankruptcy attorney reviews your specific debt mix at the initial consultation.