Court-ordered deduction from your paycheck to pay debts like child support, student loans, or tax liens.
Common paystub code: GARN / CS / LEVY
A wage garnishment is a legal order requiring your employer to withhold a portion of your earnings to pay a debt. Common garnishments include child support (up to 65% of disposable income), federal student loans (up to 15%), IRS tax levies (varies), and creditor judgments (up to 25% under federal law). Garnishments are involuntary — your employer has no choice but to comply, and they cannot fire you for having a single garnishment order.