Question 1

How much of my wages can be garnished from 1 July 2026?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your net income and on the number of people you support. Without dependants, 1,587.40 € a month is exempt. Of the amount above that, 70 % can be garnished; with one dependant 50 %, with two 40 %, with three 30 %, with four 20 % and with five or more 10 %. Example: with 2,500 € net and no dependants, 638.82 € can be garnished. The values are set by the 2026 exemption notice (BGBl. 2026 I No. 80) and apply until 30 June 2027.

Question 2

From what net income does garnishment start?

Accepted Answer

Without dependants from 1,590.00 € net a month, because the garnishment table works in 10 € steps and the limit is 1,587.40 €. With one dependant garnishment starts at 2,190.00 €, with two at 2,520.00 €, with three at 2,860.00 €, with four at 3,190.00 € and with five or more at 3,520.00 €. If you are paid weekly you are protected up to 367.49 €, if paid daily up to 73.49 €.

Question 3

Which people count as dependants?

Accepted Answer

People you actually support because of a legal obligation count: children and other relatives you owe maintenance to, your spouse or registered civil partner, also former ones, and the other parent of your child under §§ 1615l, 1615n of the Civil Code. This can be cash maintenance or support in kind in a shared household. Unmarried partners without a child together do not count. At most five people are taken into account. If one of them has their own income, the enforcement court can disregard them fully or partly at the creditor's request (§ 850c (6) ZPO).

Question 4

What does the upper limit of 4,866.30 € mean?

Accepted Answer

Up to this limit, part of the amount above the exemption limit stays protected. Anything above 4,866.30 € net a month can be garnished in full (§ 850c (3) sentence 3 ZPO). Example without dependants: with 5,000 € net, 2,290.82 € from the table plus 133.70 € above the upper limit can be garnished, 2,424.52 € in total. The weekly limit is 1,119.90 € and the daily limit 223.99 €.

Question 5

Which net income counts for garnishment?

Accepted Answer

What counts is net income as defined in § 850e ZPO. First the exempt payments under § 850a ZPO are deducted from gross pay, such as half of any overtime pay, additional holiday pay or a Christmas bonus up to 795 €. Then income tax, solidarity surcharge, church tax and social security contributions are deducted. If you have private health insurance, the usual premiums can be deducted too. In the calculator you enter such amounts under 'Deduct'.

Question 6

How high is the P-Konto allowance from 1 July 2026?

Accepted Answer

The basic allowance on a garnishment protection account (P-Konto) is 1,590 € a month: the exemption limit of 1,587.40 €, rounded up to the next full 10 € (§ 899 (1) ZPO). For the first dependant 597.42 € is added, for the second to fifth 332.83 € each (§ 902 ZPO). With two dependants it is 2,520.25 €. Child benefit (259 € per child) is protected on top. For the increase the bank needs a certificate, for example from the family benefits office, your employer or a debt advice centre.

Question 7

Are overtime pay and Christmas bonuses garnished?

Accepted Answer

Partly. Half of overtime pay is exempt (§ 850a No. 1 ZPO). A Christmas bonus is protected up to half of the exemption limit rounded up to the next full 10 €, so up to 795 € from 1 July 2026 (§ 850a No. 4 ZPO). Additional holiday pay, loyalty bonuses and allowances for danger, dirt or hardship are exempt as long as they are within the usual range. The rest is added to net income and goes into the table.

Question 8

Does the table also apply to maintenance debts?

Accepted Answer

No. If maintenance creditors garnish because of maintenance, § 850d ZPO applies: the enforcement court decides how much you keep for your own necessary living costs and for maintenance obligations that rank higher. This is usually clearly less than the table. The same is true for claims arising from an intentional tort (§ 850f (2) ZPO). The calculator only covers ordinary garnishment under § 850c ZPO.

Question 9

Can pensions, unemployment benefit or basic income support be garnished?

Accepted Answer

Ongoing cash benefits such as pensions, unemployment benefit or sickness benefit can be garnished like earned income (§ 54 (4) SGB I). The same garnishment table applies to them. Benefits that secure your living costs under SGB II, i.e. basic income support (formerly citizen's income), cannot be garnished (§ 42 (4) SGB II).

Question 10

When will the garnishment table change again?

Accepted Answer

The exemption limits change every year on 1 July in line with the basic tax-free allowance (§ 850c (4) ZPO). The Federal Ministry of Justice publishes the new amounts beforehand in the Federal Law Gazette. The current values apply from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. The amounts from 1 July 2027 have not been published yet.

Question 11

Where can I get free help with a garnishment?

Accepted Answer

At a recognised debt advice centre. They are run by cities and districts, welfare organisations and consumer advice centres. Advice is usually free and confidential. The advisers check the garnishment, issue the P-Konto certificate and help with negotiations with creditors or with personal insolvency.

Guide: Wage Garnishment Calculator & Table

Wage Garnishment in Germany 2026: How the Garnishable Amount Is Calculated

Garnishment Table 2026/2027: Exemption Amounts from 1 July 2026

P-Konto: How to Get Your Protected Amount Raised

What Can Be Garnished from Your Wages in Germany?

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