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2026 Garnishment Frequently Asked Questions

2026 Garnishment Frequently Asked Questions

Submission Timing and Early Filing

  • If we submit early or by the November 2 deadline and a party pays the debt, should we hold the orders of Garnishment Release until January?

    Yes. If the debt is paid for a 2026 Garnishment, the Order of Release should be mailed after January 15th to: Michigan Department of Treasury, Third Party Withholding Unit, P.O. Box 30785, Lansing, MI 48909. This allows us to properly attach the release to an active account.

  • Is early submission still accepted?

    Yes. Early submission for FTS begins on September 14, 2026. Files submitted during this period will be tested, and any errors will be communicated so they can be corrected before the November 2 deadline. Early Submission for eService begins on October 1, 2026.

  • Will early payments be accepted before November 2?

    Yes. Payments for FTS will be accepted starting October 15, 2026. If both the file and payment are received and passed validation by November 2, the service date will be preserved as November 2.

Filing Methods and Requirements

  • Will paper filings eventually be phased out?

    While paper filings are still accepted, Treasury strongly encourages electronic submissions via eService or FTS due to efficiency and accuracy.

  • Can we use both FTS and eService to submit garnishments?

    Yes. You may use both methods depending on the volume of garnishments being submitted. eService is best for submitting 50 or fewer garnishments. FTS is best for submitting 51 or more garnishments.

  • If we file more than 50 garnishments, can we still submit a single garnishment later if it comes in late?

    Yes. If you have additional garnishment submissions of 50 or less, please use eService.

  • If filing 50 or fewer garnishments, do we need to use the EDP layout or include a transmittal form?

    EDP layout is not required for eService. A transmittal is no longer required for eService.

  • If using the electronic filing for up to 50 garnishments, is it necessary to upload the PDFs individually or is there an option to upload them as a batch?

    You must upload the PDFs individually, but you can upload up to 50 individual PDFs per eService submission.

  • If using the eService filing for up to 50 garnishments, is there a data file submission requirement, as there is with the 50+ option?

    No. When using eService, you are only required to upload garnishments in PDF format.

  • Are format requirements, etc., which reference FTS and EDP only applicable to submissions of 51 or more garnishments?

    Yes. If you are using eService, and submitting 50 or less, you are only required to upload garnishments in PDF format.

  • Can I file 2 batches of 50 garnishments?

    Yes. If you use eService, you can submit 2 or more batches of 50 garnishments.

Transmittal Forms and Corrections

  • If a DAT file correction is needed that would cause the transmittal form to be updated, does this negate the submission of the entire file that was submitted?

    Once your correction is made to the DAT file, if the transmittal form needs updating, you must update the transmittal and resubmit the new transmittal with the corrected DAT file(s).

  • If a correction is needed that affects the transmittal form, does the entire DAT file need to be resubmitted?

    Yes. If the transmittal form needs to be updated, the corrected version must be resubmitted with the entire file to ensure alignment.

  • If you have multiple transmittal forms, will a separate check need to be submitted for each form?

    No. When you mail the check, be sure to include copies of the corresponding transmittal forms.

  • If we don’t know the check number at the time of FTS submission, what should we do?

    You must include a check number on the transmittal form. Please prepare the check before submitting the DAT files to avoid delays.

  • What format should the transmittal be in?

    Transmittals must be submitted in PDF format.

Court Codes and Zip Codes

  • Have there been any changes to court codes or ZIP codes since last year?

    There have been no known changes to the court numbers or zip codes since last year; however, it is imperative to double check that your court numbers and zip codes are correct according to the Court Code Directory on our website. Mismatched court code/zip codes will result in files being rejected.

Releases, Disclosures, and Contact Information

  • Are faxed garnishment releases still accepted?

    Faxes are ONLY for emergency releases. Otherwise, releases must be mailed to:

    Michigan Department of Treasury
    Third Party Withholding Unit
    P.O. Box 30785
    Lansing, MI 48909

  • Since garnishment releases can no longer be faxed (mail in only), is it possible to have a feature added to the website to release the garnishment?

    Thank you for your suggestion. This will be taken into consideration for future enhancements.

  • Who do we contact if we receive a garnishment disclosure but no payment?

    There are three ways to contact us:

    1. Visit the Garnishment webpage and use the “contact us” feature,
    2. email treas-collections-TPWUnit@michigan.gov, or
    3. contact Third Party Withholding, 517-636-5265, option 2.

Annual Requirements and Integration

  • If we submitted via FTS last year, do we need to submit a test file again this year?

    No. Returning FTS filers do not need to submit a new test file unless their system or formatting has changed.

  • Will Treasury work with DTMB to integrate garnishment systems via API?

    Treasury is exploring long-term integration solutions. Currently, filers must work with their IT teams to meet formatting requirements.

PDF Upload Issues

  • I uploaded my PDF file to FTS, but the progress still shows 0% after a long time. What should I do?

    This is a known issue. PDF files uploaded directly to FTS may not be processed correctly and can remain stuck at 0%. To resolve this, please compress your PDF into a 7-Zip (.7z) file before uploading.

  • Why isn’t there a countdown or timeout warning like in previous years?

    The FTS interface may not display the countdown timer or timeout warnings consistently. This does not necessarily indicate an error, but if your upload remains at 0% for an extended period, it’s best to try the 7-Zip method.

  • How do I create a 7-Zip (.7z) file?

    1. Download and install 7-Zip if you don’t already have it.
    2. Right-click your PDF file.
    3. Select 7-Zip > Add to archive...
    4. In the archive format dropdown, choose .7z
    5. Click OK to create the compressed file.
    6. Upload the resulting .7z file to FTS.

  • I’m not familiar with 7-Zip. Can I use another compression tool?

    FTS currently works best with the .7z format. Other formats like .ZIP or .RAR may result in similar upload issues.

  • Who can I contact if I continue to have issues?

    If the issue persists after using the 7-Zip method, please contact your designated IT support team for further assistance.