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HR Support on Compliance with Wage Garnishment Laws
Editor's Note: Be sure to check state law regarding creditor garnishment orders.
Overview: A garnishment is a legal means for collecting money from an individual to pay off a debt, such as an unpaid loan or credit card amount. When an employee becomes subject to a court ordered creditor garnishment, the court will send the employer an order requiring it to withhold from the employee's wages according to the terms of the order. To successfully fulfill all the employer responsibilities of a creditor garnishment order and avoid the imposition of penalties, employers must know how to calculate payroll withholding, when to follow state law and the order of priority when there are multiple garnishments in effect against one employee.
Employers must comply with the Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA) when calculating withholding for a garnishment. The CCPA limits the amount of an employee's earnings that can be garnished to repay a debt in any workweek or pay period. State garnishment limits apply if they are lower than the CCPA limits. State law also applies if the state prohibits creditor garnishments altogether. State laws also govern the following issues:
- When to remit withheld amounts;
- How to handle a garnishment order issued by another state;
- How to prioritize multiple garnishments when there are insufficient earnings to cover all of them;
- What to do if the amount ordered to be withheld is greater than the legal maximum;
- Whether the employer may withhold an administrative processing fee; and
- Penalties for noncompliance.
Employers also must figure out which order to satisfy first when an employee is subject to more than one garnishment and/or how much to withhold for each. Withholding more than the maximum permitted by the CCPA may reduce an employee's wages below the minimum wage in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Rena Pirsos, JD, Legal Editor
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About this topic
Key issues in complying with creditor garnishments.
Garnishment: Key Items
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Involuntary and Voluntary Pay Deductions
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Comply With a Child Support Withholding Order
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Comply With a Creditor Garnishment
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How to Comply With a Creditor Garnishment Order
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What if federal and state regulations on an involuntary deduction are different?
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How is take-home pay determined for an employee subject to a federal tax levy?