Free Tool
IRS Wage Garnishment Calculator
The IRS doesn't take a percentage like other creditors — it leaves you a fixed exempt amount and takes everything above it. Enter your details to see how much of each paycheck it can levy, using the 2026 Publication 1494 tables. Runs privately in your browser.
How it works: your protected amount is your standard deduction plus about $5,300 per dependent, divided by how often you're paid. Whatever your take-home pay exceeds that, the IRS can take. Enter your numbers below.
The IRS could take, per paycheck, about
$0
This is an estimate only, based on the 2026 Publication 1494 tables. Your employer uses the exact table and your actual figures; certain income and exemptions can change the result. An IRS wage levy is continuous — it keeps taking every paycheck until you get it released.
Want This Garnishment Stopped?
A wage levy can often be released within days — through a payment plan, a hardship (Currently Not Collectible) filing, or an appeal. We'll review your case free and move fast to stop the levy.
Why an IRS wage levy is different
Most wage garnishments are capped at 25% of your disposable pay. The IRS plays by its own rules. Under a federal levy, the IRS leaves you only the exempt amount from Publication 1494 — your standard deduction plus an amount for each dependent, spread across your pay periods — and takes everything else. For a higher earner, that can mean the IRS sweeps the large majority of each paycheck.
It's also continuous: once your employer receives the levy (Form 668-W), it keeps sending your pay to the IRS every period until the IRS formally releases it. That's why waiting rarely helps. The fastest releases usually come from an installment agreement, proving hardship for Currently Not Collectible status, an offer in compromise, or a Collection Due Process appeal. Our wage garnishment release team handles these directly with the IRS.
Common questions
How much of my paycheck can the IRS take?
Unlike most creditors, the IRS does not use a percentage. It leaves you a fixed exempt amount based on your filing status, number of dependents, and pay frequency from Publication 1494, and takes everything above that. For a single filer with no dependents paid biweekly in 2026, only about $619 per paycheck is protected.
What is the IRS exempt amount?
It is the part of your take-home pay the IRS cannot levy. It equals your standard deduction plus an amount for each dependent (about $5,300 in 2026), divided by the number of pay periods in the year. The more dependents you claim, the more is protected.
How do I stop an IRS wage garnishment?
You can often stop a wage levy by setting up an installment agreement, proving financial hardship to get Currently Not Collectible status, filing an offer in compromise, or requesting a Collection Due Process hearing. A wage levy is continuous until released, so acting quickly matters.
Clarity Tax Relief is not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency. This calculator is general information, not individualized tax or legal advice; exact exempt amounts and outcomes depend on individual facts, and no outcome is guaranteed.
More tools: OIC Calculator · CSED Calculator · Penalty & Interest Calculator. Reviewed by Melissa Ly, Chief Tax Officer.