Something really terrible just happened...need advice please!

So...I went to pick up my paycheck today and found that it was short...like way short.  I looked it over and was about to call my work about the error.  Then at the bottom I saw "after-tax deduction"  Garnishment-tax levy.  What the heck?????  They are taking 25% of my income after tax and I don't know why.  I always get money back when I file my taxes.  I can barely afford the bills now and if I lose 25% of my income, I'll lose my car and I'll lose everything.  I am so upset right now.  I am literally in my cube sobbing at work.  It's so embarassing but I don't know what I'm going to do right now.  Is there anything that I can do?  Who do I contact about this?  Is there anything that I can do to stop this if it's going to literally make me homeless?  I won't have enough for rent this month.

oh my gosh...this is awful.  The only reasons I know of for garnishment tax is child support, back taxes not paid, and in a few states it can be done for depts not paid...but I heard this is very rare.

I wish I could help you more....can you go to payroll and see if maybe they got you confused with someone else?

you never got anything in the mail? i know the irs tries to work things out and you can get a tax advocate before they garnish your wages. my sister had lots of contact w/ them when they were trying to (wrongfully) get money from her

Go talk to payroll asap. It could very well be an error, and they won't know if you don't tell them. If you don't owe taxes or child support, it could be a problem with someone who has a similar name or has stolen your identity. You need to go to payroll IMMEDIATELY.  

Now - deep breath. Do you have a credit card? If this can't be resolved quickly, and you need to pay your rent, use your credit card. That's what it is for - emergencies.

I would most definitely go to payroll to find out if it's a mistake.  If it isn't a mistake you can at least find out what it's all about and go to the collector directly.  Remember, they have to keep your information confidential so it will only be between you and the payroll person. 

I would imagine anyone having your wages garnished would have to notify you.  Your employer should know what it's about because they have to receive the proper documentation before taking money out of your check.

I move A LOT.  For the past five years I have moved about once every six months...it's the nature of my life so I can understand why I never got anything in the mail.  I'm shocked my employer didn't send me anything or call or email me.  The address on my paycheck is not up to date so it's possible my work did try to send me something.  I called my work and they told me to call corporate.  Corporate is closed until Monday.  I do have a credit card but the limit is really low because I'm in the process of rebuilding my credit. 

is it possible that you have had your identity stolen and have debts against your name that you don't know about?

No, I check my credit report monthly. I'm talking to the IRS right now to see what the heck is going on? 

I have heard that it's bad to check your credit often. I don't know if that's true or not but supposedly it makes your score lower.

Here is what I found
Yes, the IRS can and does issue threats to use the wage levy, and actually issues the pay levy. This is supposed to be a last resort by the IRS to collect taxes but is far too often used as a FIRST RESOURCE by IRS Personnel to intimidate you and force you to agree to things you should not agree to because of the wage levy. Here is how it works. Generally, the IRS identifies a debt that it thinks you owe. After sending a couple of notices to the LAST ADDRESS ON FILE, the IRS is free to take the money from anyone owing you money This is called a wage levy, or a wage garnishment on your pay, a pay levy. This is really an ugly process. You do not have to actually receive the notice.

Hmm, i thought there were limits on what they could do. If its causing major problems, i would contact a lawer.... garnishing pay is fine, but im not sure they can do it to a point where you start losing your house or car. At least, i think there is room for negotiation?

http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/garnishme nt-law.html

Hmm, interesting...seems the MAX they can garnish is 25 percent. Yea, seems its flexable to the amount they garnish (so talking to them and setting a different amount would probably work).

Wow! 25%!  That's outrageous!

Okay...I got the scoop.  My grandmother put aside a savings account for my college growing up.  It was a couple thousand dollars but I only used $500 per semester.  What I didn't know is that she saved with savings bond and placed them under my name and social.  I filed my taxes in 2001 and got a refund of $500.  Two years later the state of California (not the IRS) did an audit and I was supposed to claim that $1000 as part of my income for that year.  I only owe $289 freakin dollars and they are garnishing at a rate of 25%.  That's $121 a week for me!  Couldn't they take it out in smaller amounts for such a low balance?  AND to add insult to injury, they are taking this amount out after taxes. 

Thanks everyone that replied!!!

I sometimes have to act as accountant at my job and have often had to process garnishment orders... your garnisher can take up tp 25% of your take home pay. The only way to get that lessened would to go before a judge and explain your finances and circumstance and hope that he will be in a good mood.

Good luck with everything, I hope it all works out for you!!

One more thing.. the only reason they would take less than 25% (without going before a judge) would be if someone else was garnishing you as well... then the second garnisher would have to settle for second best...er, I hope that made sense :)

Yea!!!!   I talked to the state and they stopped the garnishment completely, effective immediately.  Oh, thank God!!!