Attachment of earnings
Noticed a lighter payslip and wondering where the money has gone?
This guide explains what an attachment of earnings is, why it matters for payroll and HR, and how to handle it in a way that keeps your business compliant and your team members informed.
What is an attachment of earnings?
An attachment of earnings is a legal instruction from a court that tells an employer to take money directly from a team member’s wages or salary to repay a debt.
The deducted amount is then sent to the court or collection agency until the debt is cleared. Attachments of earnings can be used for things such as unpaid loans, council tax arrears or maintenance payments.
In simple terms, the court steps in to make sure regular repayments are made by routing them through payroll.
Why do attachments of earnings matter?
Attachments of earnings are not something you can ignore or “park” for later. They matter because they:
Protect your business. Employers are legally obliged to follow the court’s instructions and can face fines or enforcement action if they do not.
Support fair repayment. Deductions are set up in a structured way that helps debts be repaid over time.
Avoid confusion. Clear, documented deductions help team members understand what is coming out of their pay and why.
Keep payroll accurate. Handling orders correctly ensures your records are clean and ready for audits.
Getting this right is part of running a trustworthy, compliant payroll.
How to manage an attachment of earnings
Manually tracking court orders and deductions can become complex fast. A good process for managing attachments of earnings usually includes:
carefully checking each court order and the instructions it contains.
setting up the deduction in your payroll system with the right start date and amount.
keeping clear records of each payment and remaining balance.
updating or stopping deductions when the court sends new instructions.
explaining the change to the team member so they know what to expect.
Modern payroll tools can automate a lot of this work by applying the correct deduction each pay period and generating reports for compliance.
Who needs to understand attachments of earnings?
Attachments of earnings are most relevant for:
payroll teams who process pay runs.
HR and people teams who support affected team members.
business owners and managers responsible for compliance.
When everyone involved understands the basics, it is easier to protect the business, keep records accurate and give team members a clear view of what is happening.
Get your payroll together
Attachments of earnings may never be the most exciting part of payroll, but they are important.
With the right systems in place, you can manage court ordered deductions alongside tax, pensions and other payments, so every payslip stays accurate and transparent for your team.
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