Garnishments

What is a garnishment?  

A garnishment is a legal order to withhold a portion of an employee’s wages to satisfy a debt. Employee wages can be garnished because of debts to creditors, student loans, or alimony and child support payments. The university does not deduct for voluntary wage assignments.

Types of Garnishments

• Writ of Garnishment and Wage Assignment are garnishments for failure to pay a creditor. They are calculated at 25% of disposable earnings unless a different percentage is negotiated through the court. Disposable earnings are the amount left after legally required deductions are made (such as federal tax deductions and FICA tax deductions).

  • Note: Writ of garnishments and wage assignments that are hand delivered by a process server, must be delivered to the Payroll Office.

  • Disposable Earnings: Gross earnings minus taxes is the amount that is used to calculate the amount deducted from payroll.

• Child Support, Spousal Support, and Dependent Support are garnishments ordered by a family court. The amount deducted is ordered and determined by the court and cannot be modified by the employer.

• Student Loan Repayment are garnishments for delinquent student loans. The amount deducted is 15% of disposable earnings. Disposable earnings are the amount left after legally required deductions are made.

• Bankruptcy is a garnishment ordered by the United States Bankruptcy Court. The amount deducted is ordered by the court and cannot be modified by the employer.

• Tax Levy is a legal seizure of your wages to collect overdue federal or state taxes. Part of your wages is exempt from levy. To claim exemptions, you must complete and return the Statement of Exemptions and Filing Status to Payroll. If we do not receive the completed Statement of Exemptions and Filing Status, then we are required to use married filing separately and only one personal exemption.

All types of Wage Garnishments should be mailed to:

*Garnishments & releases may not be accepted in an employee’s

department or directly from an employee.

For questions contact the payroll department at:

payroll@apsu.edu