• In three situations wages may be garnished before you sue:

• The IRS can take everything but about $100 a week.
• The Department of Education or a state guarantee agency can garnish up to 10% of wages if in default on a student loan.
• Up to 50% of wages can be garnished to pay child support or alimony.

To place a lien on a house or empty a bank account, almost all creditors must first sue, get a judgment and then use a law enforcement officer. A few creditors, such as an unpaid contractor who worked on a house, can put a lien on a home without suing. And again, the IRS is an exception ­­ it can place a lien or empty a bank account without suing first.

A tax refund can never be taken unless the Treasury Department receives such a request from the IRS, the Department of Education or a child support collection agency.

Collections-Creditors Rights Sub-categories