{"id":4607,"date":"2024-09-23T13:15:18","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T13:15:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/andersonbradshawtax.com\/blog\/?p=4607"},"modified":"2024-10-28T14:18:42","modified_gmt":"2024-10-28T14:18:42","slug":"can-the-irs-garnish-social-security-checks-for-tax-debt-recovery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/andersonbradshawtax.com\/blog\/can-the-irs-garnish-social-security-checks-for-tax-debt-recovery\/","title":{"rendered":"Can the IRS Garnish Social Security Checks for Tax Debt Recovery?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When someone owes a significant amount in back taxes<\/a> to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that may require years of payments, a question commonly arises – Can the IRS garnish my Social Security check? The answer is yes. In fact, the IRS is one of the only federal agencies that is allowed to access your Social Security funds, in the event you owe back taxes.<\/p>\n

In contrast, garnishment of Social Security checks is generally prohibited when it comes to private creditors. Nevertheless, since the Federal Government is not your standard creditor, it authorized the IRS to access Social Security funds when a recipient has a delinquent tax bill.<\/p>\n

Amount the IRS is Allowed to Garnish<\/strong><\/h2>\n

According to Title II of the Social Security Act and Section 6331 of the IRS Code<\/a>, the taxing agency is allowed to perform manual levies on Social Security income or use the Federal Automated Payment Levy Program. Under the Federal Payment Levy Program, the IRS can garnish up to 15 percent of your Social Security payment.<\/p>\n

If, on the other hand, you are being garnished manually, the Social Security Administration will typically establish a minimum monthly allotment for you to take home. The remainder will go to the IRS.<\/p>\n

Overview of the Social Security Garnishment Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before the IRS begins garnishing your Social Security checks, they will typically send multiple letters informing you of the back taxes you owe to the Federal Government. For example, you probably received a CP-14 form<\/a> stating how much you owe and when that amount is due. You will subsequently receive a CP-91<\/a> or CP-298<\/a> form that declares the agency\u2019s intent to garnish your Social Security checks. You will be provided 30 days from the issuance of the final notice to repay the outstanding debt.<\/p>\n

How to Stop the IRS from Garnishing Your Social Security Checks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you are looking for ways to stop the IRS from garnishing your Social Security checks, here are some options worth considering:<\/p>\n