Assigning garnishments

  1. Select Payroll Administrator > Resource Maintenance > Garnishments.
  2. Click Create.
  3. Specify this information:
    Employment ID
    Specify the employment ID of the employee to whom the garnishment is assigned.
    Case Number
    Specify the garnishment's unique identifier. This is found on the garnishment order. For example, for a tax levy, this might be the social security number.
    File Number
    Optionally, specify a file number to distinguish separate garnishment orders under the same case number. For example, garnishments under the same case number might have one file number for child support and another file number for spousal support.
    Description
    Specify a description of the garnishment.
    Tax Authority
    Specify the tax authority governing the case. For example, a state, county, or other locality. The tax authority and type determine the rules that apply to the garnishment.
    Type
    Specify the garnishment type.
  4. On the Garnishment tab, specify this information:
    Deduction
    Specify the deduction code to use when withholding the garnishment amount.
    Amount
    Specify the amount to deduct from the employee's earnings for this garnishment. If no amount is specified, then the amount that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Percent
    Specify the percent to deduct from the employee's earnings for this garnishment. If no percent is specified, then the percent that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Additional Or Minimum Amount
    Specify the additional or minimum amount. If no additional or minimum amount is specified, then the additional or minimum amount that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Additional Or Minimum Percent
    Specify the additional or minimum percent. If no additional or minimum percent is specified, then the additional or minimum amount that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Monthly Limit
    Specify the maximum amount that can be taken for the garnishment in a single month. If no monthly limit is specified, then the monthly limit that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Exclude Amount
    Specify the pay period amount that is excluded from the garnishment calculation. If no exclude amount is specified, then the exclude amount that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Balance Type
    Specify the balance type.
    Original Balance
    For garnishments that are for a total amount to be paid in installments, specify the beginning balance.
    Balance Amount
    If you specified a balance type of Descending or Limit, specify the balance amount. When the deduction is taken, the balance amount is updated according to the balance type that is defined for the deduction.
    Priority
    To override the priority defined for the deduction, specify a value of 1 to 9. This value indicates the order in which garnishments, arrears, and fee deductions are processed.
    Sub Priority
    Specify a value of 1 to 99 to indicate the order within a priority in which garnishments are taken. The sub priority applies to the garnishment, arrears, and fee deductions for this garnishment.
    Begin Date
    Specify the begin date that is defined on the garnishment order. The begin date is used to determine priority if multiple orders exist, and rules specify that the issue or effective date is used. This date is applied to the garnishment, arrears, and fees deductions that are associated with the garnishment.
    End Date
    Specify the end date that is defined on the garnishment order. The end date is used to determine priority if multiple orders exist, and rules specify that the issue or effective date is used. This date is applied to the garnishment, arrears, and fees deductions that are associated with the garnishment.
    Deduction Cycles
    Select the deduction cycles for which the deduction is taken.
  5. If a court has indicated that there are arrears for this garnishment, then on the Arrears tab, specify this information:
    Deduction
    Specify the deduction code to use when withholding the arrears amount.
    Amount
    Specify the amount to deduct from the employee's earnings. If no amount is specified, then the amount that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Percent
    Specify the percent to deduct from the employee's earnings. If no percent is specified, then the percent that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Additional Or Minimum Amount
    Specify the additional or minimum amount. If no additional or minimum amount is specified, then the additional or minimum amount that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Additional Or Minimum Percent
    Specify the additional or minimum amount. If no additional or minimum percent is specified, then the additional or minimum percent that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Monthly Limit
    Specify the maximum amount that can be taken in a single month. If no monthly limit is specified, then the monthly limit that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Exclude Amount
    Specify the pay period amount that is excluded from the arrears calculation. If no exclude amount is specified, then the exclude amount that is defined on the deduction code is used.
    Balance Type
    Specify the balance type.
    Original Balance
    For arrears that are for a total amount to be paid in installments, specify the beginning balance.
    Balance Amount
    If you specified a balance type of Descending or Limit, specify the balance amount. When the deduction is taken, the balance amount is updated according to the balance type that is defined for the deduction.
    Over 12 Weeks
    If the court indicates that this arrears is over 12 weeks, then select Yes.
  6. On the Fees tab, specify this information:
    Override Fee
    Specify whether the fee amount that is defined for this garnishment overrides the amount that is defined on the garnishment rules or deduction code.
    Override Fee Amount
    Specify the amount to withhold for fees for this employee.
    Override Fee Percent
    Specify the percentage to withhold for fees for this employee.
    Deduct From Garnishment If No Available Wages
    Sometimes, taking the full garnishment deduction and fee brings the employee's net pay below an amount protected by law. Specify whether, in these cases, the fee reduces the amount that is taken for the garnishment amount. If you do not select this check box, then the garnishment is calculated first. Then, the fee is taken only if there is sufficient unprotected income.
    Override Clearing House Fee
    Select this check box to override the clearinghouse fee amount.
    Override Clearing House Amount
    Specify the amount to use when overriding the clearinghouse fee amount.
  7. If this is a support order, then on the Family tab, specify this information:
    Number Of Dependents
    Specify the number of dependents that the employee has.
    Second Family
    Select this check box if the employee has a second family.
    Head Of Family
    Select this check box if the employee is the head of the family.
  8. If this is a tax levy, then on the Tax Levy tab, specify this information:
    Levy Effective Year
    Specify the effective year of the federal or state tax levy exempt wages table that is used for the garnishment deduction.
    Filing Status
    Specify the employee's tax filing status.
    Number Of Exemptions
    Specify the number of exemptions the employee claims.
    Additional Standard Exemption
    Specify the number of additional exemptions the employee claims.
  9. On the Disposable Income tab, specify this information:
    Pay Code
    Specify pay codes to exclude from the employee's disposable income when the garnishment is calculated.
    Deduction Code
    Specify deduction codes to exclude from the employee's disposable income when the garnishment is calculated.
  10. On the Formula tab, specify this information:
    Override Formula
    Specify a formula to use to define the method by which exempt earnings are calculated. This value overrides the formula that is defined for the garnishment rule.
    Rate Times Minimum Wage
    Specify the rate that, when multiplied by the federal minimum wage, determines exempt wages for the employee. This value overrides the rate that is defined for the garnishment rule.
    Factor 1-4
    Specify the wage formula factors to use in calculating exempt wages. This value overrides the wage formula factors that are defined for the garnishment rules.
    Second Family Percent
    To override the percentage to exclude from garnishments if an employee has a second family, specify the percentage.
    No Second Family Percent
    To override the percentage to exclude from garnishments if an employee does not have a second family, specify the percentage.
    Arrears Over 12 Weeks Percent
    To override the additional percentage to take if outstanding arrears are over 12 weeks old, specify the percentage.
    Amount Per Dependent
    To override the amount per dependent to use when calculating exempt earnings, specify the amount.
    Percent Per Dependent
    To override the percentage per dependent to use when calculating exempt earnings, specify the percentage.
  11. Click Save.