Wage Garnishment - How To Stop The IRS

IRS wage garnishment can be stopped in essentially two ways; Either solve your tax problem or to cancel or delay the effects of the wage levy. Obviously it's better to resolve the IRS problem than to delay it however often an individuals situation may require some actions to delay or negate the wage garnishment, giving the troubled taxpayer time to resolve the tax issues.

Stop the Wage Garnishment - Resolve Your Tax Problems

By getting back into good standing with the IRS you will be able to stop a wage garnishment. You do not necessarily have to have paid the IRS in full to but enter into a negotiated settlement. Various programs are available to help taxpayers get back into good standing, an experienced tax attorney will be able to guide troubled taxpayer to the program that will work best for their specific situation. Below are some of the methods available to get back into “good standing” and halt wage garnishment.

Get an Installment Agreement – The IRS will stop a wage levy once you have entered into an installment agreement with them. An installment agreement works like other loans or credit cards: you must make your agreed upon monthly payments including interest until the amount owed is paid off. To stay in the installment agreement, the monthly payments must be paid on time. The amount paid each month must allow for the entire amount owed to be paid in full within 3 years.

Submit an Offer an Compromise – Many people may have seen tv commercials from tax forms advertising settlements for pennies on the dollar. What they are referring to is the Offer In Compromise Program. The Offer In Compromise Program or (OIC) allows a taxpayer to settle the tax liability for less than the amount owed. However there are specific guidelines that an individual must qualify for before the IRS will accept the OIC. While not everyone will qualify it should be noted that once you have submitted a proposal for an Offer in Compromise the IRS will halt wage garnishments during the negotiation process. This may a way to buy time to pursue another program should your offer be rejected.

Hire an Experienced Tax Lawyer – IRS problems are both complex and the laws governing federal tax regulations are complex. As such it is advised to hire an experienced tax law attorney. A tax attorney will have the knowledge to make the right moves to end your wage garnishment quickly. In addition a tax lawyer may be able to reduce the amount owed to the IRS. It is also a clear advantage that the attorney will be representing you and the harassment from the IRS collection efforts will stop.

Be declared Uncollectable or Hardship Status – it may be possible to show that paying the IRS will place a family under undo financial hardship. Hardship status is temporary but can last for months or even years if economic conditions o not improve. An attorney can file to have hardship status placed on a case and this will end the wage garnishment as well as allow time to fins a more permanent tax debt solution.

Other methods to temporarily stop wage garnishment

While not recommended there are other ways to temporarily stop wage garnishment including what some might consider a “cat and mouse game”. These methods are drastic and will only by time not resolve the IRS problem, and ma in fact only make it worse, however for those with no recourse a few options are available including: Change jobs; by changing jobs you may temporarily out pace the IRS's ability to get the legal approval to levy your bank account. File for bankruptcy – wage garnishment will stop when when you file for bankruptcy, however depending on your individual circumstances it may only be a temporary reprieve. An experienced bankruptcy attorney should consulted when deciding whether or not to go in this direction and only after discussing your issues with a qualified tax attorney. If you feel the levy is incorrect you may also file an appeal.

Wage garnishment is a serious problem and should you find yourself in this situation the best possible thing you can do is consult a tax attorney. An experienced tax lawyer will have the best options available to stop wage garnishment and begin to put your IRS problems behind you.