Understanding Wage Garnishments – Zendesk

What Is a Garnishment

A garnishment is a court order requiring OnTrac to withhold money from your paycheck to pay a debt. Common garnishments include:

Child support Spousal support Tax levies (IRS or state) Student loans Credit card judgments Medical bills

How You Are Notified

OnTrac receives the garnishment order from the court or agency.

You receive written notice from OnTrac within 5 business days including:

Type of garnishment
Amount to be withheld
Start date
Agency contact information

Garnishment Amounts

Federal law limits garnishment amounts:

Child support: Up to 50-65% of disposable earnings Tax levy: Varies based on dependents and filing status Other debts: Up to 25% of disposable earnings

State laws may provide additional protections.

When Withholding Starts

Garnishment withholding begins within 1-2 pay periods after OnTrac receives the order.

How Long It Continues

Garnishments continue until:

The debt is paid in full
The court releases the order
You make other payment arrangements with the agency

Multiple Garnishments

If you have multiple garnishments, certain types take priority:

Priority order:

Child support
Tax levies
Student loans
Other creditor garnishments

Federal law limits total withholding to protect a portion of your paycheck.

How to Stop or Reduce a Garnishment

Contact the issuing agency (court, IRS, child support office) directly to:

Set up a payment plan
Request a reduction
Resolve the debt
Dispute the garnishment

OnTrac cannot stop or modify garnishments. Only the issuing agency can release or change the order.

Viewing Garnishments on Pay Stub

Garnishments appear in the deductions section of your pay stub with a description like:

"Child Support"
"IRS Levy"
"Wage Garnishment - [Case Number]"

Privacy

Garnishment information is confidential. Only payroll staff with a business need can access this information.

Questions?

For questions about the debt or amount: Contact the issuing agency shown on your notification

For questions about payroll processing: Contact the payroll team through AskHR

OnTrac cannot provide legal advice about garnishments.