Who you must answer — and who must prove it first

Answer these — by the deadline

A court summons, a levy or garnishment notice, and letters from tax agencies (IRS, FTB, EDD), the SBA, or the U.S. Treasury are serious. Not answering these can lead to a default judgment, lost wages, or suspended licenses.

• Court summons — answer within about 30 days (check your summons for the exact date).
• Levy or garnishment notice — in California, file a claim of exemption within 10 days.
• Tax agency letters (IRS, FTB, EDD) — answer in writing; these agencies have special collection powers.
• SBA demand letter — you usually have a 60-day window before a Treasury referral.
• Treasury notices — federal debts can be collected up to 15% of your wages without a court order.

You may wait for proof from everyone else

Unknown callers, texts, emails, and social-media messages about a “debt” do not create a duty to pay. If someone threatens you with arrest, calls your employer, or asks for your SSN or bank numbers, that is a warning sign — not a reason to pay. Ask for a written validation notice instead. If they cannot prove the debt on paper, they cannot enforce it by pressure.

One rule to remember

Verify every claim in writing, never by phone. Never give personal or financial details to an unknown caller. Lender hardship teams can be allies — but the threats are interest drains, scams, fake collectors, and missed deadlines, never “all lenders.”

When to get free help

If you received court papers or a garnishment notice, get help right away. Free help is listed below and in our Find Independent Help directory.