Payroll Clerk how-to

How to Process a Wage Garnishment

Garnishments are legal orders.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Quick answer

Garnishments are legal orders. In short: review; confirm; calculate, then complete the remaining steps below.

Step by step

  1. Review the order.

  2. Confirm the employee.

  3. Calculate allowed amount.

  4. Set up the deduction.

  5. Send payments.

  6. Keep records.

Safety reminders for payroll clerks

  • Protect pay and Social Security data
  • Follow wage and hour laws
  • Prevent payroll fraud
  • Use secure systems

Gross pay · Net pay · Deduction · FICA · W-2 · W-4: see the full payroll clerk glossary.

More payroll clerk how-to guides

Learn this in Payroll Clerk trainingTake the practice test
Enroll in trainingTake fit quiz