Attachments and Garnishments for Taxpayers

Attachments and garnishments are legal orders. This means funds must be withheld from a taxpayer’s wages, bank accounts, or other intangible property to collect an unpaid tax liability.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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A bank garnishment is a legal document. It requires a bank or financial institution to put a hold on an account and deduct 100% of the funds in the account, up to the amount shown due on the notice.

A wage garnishment is a legal document sent to employers when a taxpayer has an unpaid tax liability. It requires them to withhold funds from the taxpayer’s wages, salaries, or non-wage payments (contract payments, commissions, rents, royalties, etc.).

Employers must submit those funds to the Department to pay that unpaid tax liability.

  • The percentage amount deducted depends on the type of funds.
  • A NC wage garnishment runs at the same time as other types of garnishments.
  • Other wage garnishments do not offset a NC garnishment.

Call 1-877-252-3252. Ask the Department to send a garnishment release letter to your employer. Your employer must continue making payments until they receive the garnishment release letter.

A garnishment release letter is sent to the employer once total liability is paid in full. Upon receiving the release letter, the employer should stop garnishing.

If you have a garnishment in effect and you have filed bankruptcy, call (919) 754-2542. Tell the agent that you filed bankruptcy so that your account is handled appropriately. 

When you call, please have the bankruptcy case number issued by the court available.