A wage garnishment or wage levy is a very powerful tool used to collect taxes back taxes through your employer. If you have tax problems, you should do everything you can to avoid wage garnishments, since they are extremely difficult to get released once they are implemented. Once a wage garnishment is filed with an employer, the employer is required to collect a percentage of each paycheck. The paycheck that would have otherwise been paid to the employee instead will now be paid to the IRS or State agency to settle back taxes. The wage garnishment stays in effect until the balance is fully paid or until the IRS and / or State agree to release the garnishment. By securing a temporary freeze on further collection activity, we have sufficient time to analyze your situation and determine the best course of action. For many taxpayers, tax debt relief comes in the form of an Offer in Compromise.