Can the IRS garnish your whole pay check if you owe back taxes?

Someone i know wants to borrow money from me because he said the IRS garnished his whole check because he owes back taxes; I thought the IRS could only garnish 1/3 or 25% of your check and not all of it.

Public Comments

1. IRS can garnish a check if u owe back taxes
2. I know there is a law that only allows a certain percentage.... Note of advice, pay your taxes!
3. If you can't trust him to tell you the truth, why would you consider loaning him money?
4. MY FRIEND IS PAYING BACK MONEY ON TAXES AND THEY ONLY GARNISH 25% OF HER CHECK. AS FAR AS I KNOW THAT'S ALL THEY ARE ALLOWED TO TAKE.
5. Don't lend them the money, IRS doesn't garnish your whole paycheck. SO if he lied about IRS he would be lying about paying you back.
6. By law, there is an amount of the paycheck that is exempt from levy. The amount is based on the taxpayer's filing status and number of exemptions. See Publication 1494 at the IRS web site. That being said, some employers mistakenly DO take the entire check. I'd ask this person to show you his paystub before lending him any money. I'd also requre him to call the IRS and setup an installment agreement if he still owes taxes. This will stop the levy.