---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 1672"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "1672"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/1672"
units:
  - "Chapter 41 — Consumer Credit Protection"
  - "Subchapter II — Restrictions on Garnishment"
---

# §1672. Definitions


For the purposes of this subchapter:

- (a) The term “earnings” means compensation paid or payable for personal services, whether denominated as wages, salary, [commission](/usc/15/1602.md?p=dd-1), bonus, or otherwise, and includes periodic payments pursuant to a pension or retirement program.
- (b) The term “disposable earnings” means that part of the [earnings](#a) of any individual remaining after the deduction from those [earnings](#a) of any amounts required by law to be withheld.
- (c) The term “garnishment” means any legal or equitable procedure through which the [earnings](#a) of any individual are required to be withheld for payment of any debt.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 90–321, title III, § 302, May 29, 1968, 82 Stat. 163.)