Client Sees 14-Year Wage Garnishment Released

A couple living in the small fishing village of Port Graham, Alaska had fallen on hard times ever since the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. The wife worked in the village’s general store, but the husband was a successful fisherman who could no longer find anyone who wanted to buy his fish.

The couple quickly began accruing tax liabilities with the IRS. As they fell further and further behind, the IRS began garnishing the wife’s paycheck and levying funds the couple was receiving from the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend as well as the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill settlement.

When Omni took over the account in 2009, they were also able to show the wife that she actually owed the IRS only about $17,000 while she was convinced she owed them $80,000. Since the IRS had filed several of her missing tax returns for her, they had her owing almost five times as much as she actually did.

While the client was hesitant to file missing returns because she was afraid of fees, Omni was finally able to convince her that it would help her in the long run. When she filed her missing returns, she immediately saw a huge savings and even received a $6,500 refund on one of the years.

After 14 years of ongoing collections, Omni was able to get the wife’s wage garnishment as well as the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend and Exxon Valdez Qualifying Fund Dividend released. The couple is expecting several more IRS refunds and anticipates no additional tax liabilities.

IRS wage garnishments can be devastating to people trying to get back on their feet. Contact Omni Financial to learn more about how we can help you see your wage garnishment released.