How to stop IRS bank levy or wage garnishment

Immediately contact the Taxpayer Advocate.

If the levy or wage garnishment is causing an economic hardship, write a letter giving the name and address of the person levied, i.e., your bank or employer, and explain that the levy is causing serious economic hardship. Explain why you are not able to pay living expenses if the levy is not lifted. Include with your letter a copy of the wage or bank levy if you have one. Also provide a detailed analysis of your income and expenses so that the Taxpayer Advocate can see that the levy is causing a hardship. The best way to this is with IRS Form 433-A.

Ask the Taxpayer Advocate to immediately issue a release of levy and that it be faxed to your bank or employer. As soon as your bank or employer receives the release of levy, it must disregard the levy notice and resume paying your wages or allowing access to your bank account as usual.

Overwhelmed? Tax Champions has certified Enrolled Agents to help you.

If you want representation you should look for either a CPA that is an enrolled agent or an attorney that specializes in taxation. According to the National Association of Enrolled Agents, an Enrolled Agent is:

“…a federally authorized tax practitioner who has technical expertise in the field of taxation and who is empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers before all administrative levels of the Internal Revenue Service for audits, collections, and appeals.”

Make sure that you don’t talk to just any tax professional. If you want someone that can work on your behalf legally to help you release your wage garnishment or bank levy then you need an Enrolled Agent with the IRS. If you would like to speak to an Enrolled Agent free of charge before making any decisions about your tax related issues, then please call the Tax Champions main line and ask for tax help. We can be reached Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST at 800.518.8964.

Alternatively, reach us by filling out the contact form on this page. One of our customer service representatives will refer you to an Enrolled Agent for counseling completely free of charge.