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Texas Wage Garnishment Calculator: What Can And Cannot Be Taken

Eric Pemper, Founder of CuraDebtBy Eric Pemper, Founder of CuraDebtHelping people resolve unsecured, tax, and business debt since 2001 · BBB A+ accredited

Texas Wage Garnishment Calculator: What Can And Cannot Be Taken

Bottom line in Texas
For an ordinary consumer debt, such as a credit card, medical bill, or personal loan, a creditor in Texas cannot garnish your wages at all. The Texas Constitution protects earnings for personal services. The only pay that can be reached is for court-ordered child support or alimony, unpaid taxes, and federal student loans. One important catch: once your wages are deposited into a bank account, a creditor with a judgment may be able to levy the account, so the protection can end at your bank's door.

See what a creditor can take from your Texas pay

Pick the type of debt to see whether Texas allows any garnishment, and how much. Nothing you enter is stored.

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To see how this looks for your own situation, you can request a free review of your options. It is informational and carries no obligation.or call 1-877-850-3328
On this pageThe Texas garnishment calculatorWhy Texas protects your payExceptions that still applyThe bank-account catchIf a judgment worries youFAQ

Why Texas protects your paycheck

Texas is one of only a handful of states where ordinary creditors cannot garnish wages at all. The protection comes from the Texas Constitution, Article XVI, Section 28, backed by Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 63.004. Together they exempt current wages for personal services from garnishment to collect a consumer or commercial debt. That means a credit card company, hospital, or personal-loan lender that sues you and wins still cannot order your employer to withhold part of your pay.

The debts that can still reach your wages

The constitutional shield covers ordinary debts, not every debt. Pay can still be withheld for court-ordered child support and spousal maintenance, for unpaid federal taxes under the IRS levy rules, and for defaulted federal student loans through administrative wage garnishment. The calculator above shows the limits that apply to each of those.

The bank-account catch most people miss

Here is where Texans get caught off guard. The constitutional protection covers wages, but once your paycheck lands in a checking or savings account, a creditor holding a judgment may be able to freeze and levy that account. Some funds, such as Social Security and certain other benefits, keep their exempt status if you can trace them, but ordinary deposited wages may not. If a judgment has been entered against you, do not assume the danger has passed just because your wages cannot be garnished.

If a Texas judgment already has you worried

Even with strong wage protection, an unpaid judgment does not simply go away, and it can still pressure your bank accounts and credit. Depending on your situation, options include claiming exemptions on protected funds, negotiating a settlement to resolve the judgment, or addressing the balance through a broader debt-relief program. CuraDebt is a free service that reviews the information you submit and, where appropriate and permitted by law, matches you with independent, licensed providers for debt relief or tax resolution. CuraDebt is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a credit card company garnish my wages in Texas?

No. For ordinary consumer debts like credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans, Texas does not permit wage garnishment. A judgment creditor may still pursue a bank levy or a lien, but your paycheck itself is protected while it is wages.

What debts can still be taken from my pay in Texas?

Court-ordered child support and spousal maintenance, unpaid federal taxes, and defaulted federal student loans. Each has its own limit, which the calculator estimates.

How much child support can be withheld in Texas?

Generally up to 50% of disposable earnings if you support another child or spouse, up to 60% if you do not, and up to 65% when payments are more than 12 weeks behind.

If my wages are safe, why do I still owe the debt?

Because the debt and any judgment remain even though your wages cannot be garnished. The balance can still affect your credit and expose your bank accounts, which is why resolving it still matters.

Does CuraDebt give legal advice or calculate garnishment for my Texas case, and is it a law firm?

CuraDebt is a free service that reviews the information you submit and, where appropriate and permitted by law, matches you with independent, licensed providers for debt relief or tax resolution. CuraDebt is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

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Related Resources

Educational tool, not advice. This calculator provides a general estimate for educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Your actual outcome depends on facts this tool does not capture. CuraDebt is a free service that reviews the information you submit and, where appropriate and permitted by law, matches consumers with independent, licensed providers. CuraDebt is not a law firm and provides no legal or tax advice. Results vary.