Iowa Wage Garnishment Calculator
Enter your income details to estimate the maximum that can legally be taken from your paycheck under Iowa and federal rules.
Key Iowa garnishment facts
| State abbreviation | IA |
|---|---|
| Consumer debt limit | 25% of disposable earnings, subject to the 30x minimum wage test |
| Child support limit | 50% if supporting another family, 60% otherwise, plus 5% for arrears |
| Federal student loans | 15% administrative garnishment cap |
| State minimum wage | $7.25 |
| Minimum wage source used in calculator | Federal minimum wage baseline |
| Head of household protection | Yes |
| Statute reference | Iowa Code §642.21 |
Additional notes
Iowa follows the federal weekly limit (25% of disposable, $217.50/week protected) but caps the total a creditor may garnish per calendar year by income tier — from $250/year (earning under $12,000) up to 10% of wages ($50,000+).
Tax levy note: Iowa Department of Revenue can levy wages for state tax debts.
Key protections and reminders
- • Federal weekly limit applies (25% of disposable / $217.50 per week)
- • Annual cap per creditor by income tier ($250/year up to 10% of wages)
- • Lower earners are strongly protected by the annual cap
- • Court judgment required before garnishment
Run the numbers: three Iowa paychecks
These weekly examples assume roughly 25% of gross pay goes to legally required deductions; the calculator above lets you use your own numbers and pay schedule.
| Gross weekly pay | Est. disposable | Max consumer-debt garnishment |
|---|---|---|
| $800.00 | $600.00 | $150.00 |
| $1,200.00 | $900.00 | $225.00 |
| $2,000.00 | $1,500.00 | $375.00 |
For the full legal picture — process, exemptions, and how to respond — read the companion guide: Iowa Wage Garnishment Laws Explained.
Calculator questions, answered
What are “disposable earnings”?
Your pay after legally required deductions — federal and state taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. Voluntary deductions like health insurance or 401(k) contributions usually do NOT reduce disposable earnings for garnishment purposes. The calculator estimates deductions at 25% of gross; your paystub has the real figure.
How much of my paycheck is completely safe in Iowa?
Weekly disposable earnings at or below $217.50 (30× the federal minimum wage) cannot be touched for consumer debts, and the percentage cap limits what can be taken above that line.
How accurate is this calculator?
It applies the current Iowa and federal formulas to the numbers you enter, but it estimates your deductions and cannot know case-specific court orders. Treat the result as a close estimate, and the court order as the final word. Iowa Department of Revenue can levy wages for state tax debts.
What if I have more than one garnishment?
Federal law caps the combined total, and priority matters: child support first, then tax levies, then other debts. A second creditor generally has to wait if the first already takes the legal maximum.