Legal calculator

Bankruptcy Means Test Calculator, Chapter 7 Eligibility

Check Chapter 7 bankruptcy eligibility by comparing your income to your state's median. Understand the bankruptcy means test and what it means for you.

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This is a simplified Step 1 analysis only. Full means test involves detailed expense deductions. Always consult a bankruptcy attorney before filing.

$

All sources except Social Security. Include wages, rent, etc.

Your Annual Income

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Annualized (×12)

State Median

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For household size

Difference

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Above or below median

Step 1 Result

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Presumptive eligibility

How CalcMesh runs the bankruptcy means test

Chapter 7 eligibility depends on the means test, which compares your household income to the state median. According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s United States Trustee Program, filers below their state median generally pass; those above complete a second disposable-income calculation.

We compare your income to the U.S. Trustee Program’s published median-income figures for cases filed on or after July 15, 2026. Use the current U.S. Trustee Program table for states or household sizes not offered here. This is not legal advice.

Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13

Feature Chapter 7 Chapter 13
Duration~3-4 months3-5 years
Payment planNoYes
Keep assetsMostly (exemptions)Yes
Income limitMeans test requiredNo income limit
Credit impact10 years on report7 years on report

What Bankruptcy Discharges

  • Dischargeable: Credit card debt, medical bills, personal loans, utility bills, some older tax debt
  • NOT dischargeable: Student loans (usually), alimony/child support, recent taxes, DUI judgments, fraudulent debts

Filing Costs

  • Chapter 7 filing fee: $338
  • Chapter 13 filing fee: $313
  • Attorney fees: $1,500-$3,500 (Chapter 7), $3,000-$6,000 (Chapter 13)
  • Credit counseling certificate: $15-$50 (required before filing)

Disclaimer: This calculator provides a simplified Step 1 analysis only. The full means test involves complex expense calculations. Consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney before making any decisions.

Labelled scenario, Step-1 median comparison

Educational means-test sketch (full Form 122A-1/2 expense stack not modeled):

  • Household of 2 in Texas with annualized current monthly income $90,000.
  • Tool median table for TX size-2 ≈ $86,714 (table vintage in the page data) → CMI above median → Step 1 fails the “below median” pass.
  • Above-median filers still may pass Step 2 after allowed expenses - this calculator stops at the median gate.
  • Chapter 13 has no income ceiling in the same sense; the tool’s Chapter 7 focus is the means-test fork only.

After the median check

What to do with the numbers

  • If under median, still complete credit counseling and the full schedules before assuming Chapter 7 eligibility.
  • If over median, a bankruptcy attorney runs the expense means test - do not DIY Form 122 from this sketch.
  • Confirm the state median vintage against the current USTP table before relying on the comparison.
  • Nondischargeable debts (support, many student loans) remain even when Chapter 7 is available.

Methodology & Assumptions

This statistics tool aggregates the list you paste—mean, median, mode, and spread metrics drop non-numeric tokens before the run. Outliers affect the mean more than robust measures.

Inputs, defaults, and authoritative sources
Input Default Source / authority
Numeric list Parsed from user paste Descriptive statistics definitions

How this central-tendency node runs

Mean, median, mode, and range are computed from the list you paste. Empty or non-numeric tokens are dropped before the statistics run. Published domain formulas govern the identities; when an agency updates rates or thresholds we refresh defaults and the page lastmod.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the bankruptcy means test?
The means test was created by the 2005 BAPCPA reform to prevent high-income people from filing Chapter 7. Step 1: compare your income to your state's median. If you're below, you likely qualify for Chapter 7. If above, you proceed to Step 2 which calculates disposable income after allowed expenses.
What counts as income for the means test?
All income received in the 6 calendar months before filing, averaged monthly. Includes: wages, salary, tips, bonuses, rental income, regular contributions from others. Does NOT include: Social Security, SSI, disability income, certain veterans benefits.
What if I fail the means test?
Failing means test Step 1 doesn't disqualify you from bankruptcy, you proceed to Step 2 (allowable expense deductions). Even if you fail Step 2, you can still file Chapter 13 (payment plan over 3-5 years). Chapter 7 is discharge in ~4 months with no payment plan.
How often do state median incomes change?
The U.S. Trustee Program publishes current state median-income figures for bankruptcy forms. The figures used must be current as of the filing date. This calculator includes the current published figures for the states it lists; use the U.S. Trustee Program table for any other state or household of five or more.

This page identifies the inputs, method, and limitations behind its estimates. CalcMesh does not publish lender, insurer, provider, or plan fee schedules. Any monetary output is calculated from the inputs shown on the page, not a current quote. Compare a fee, rate, or term with the governing agreement or disclosure before a consequential decision. Calculator outputs are not professional advice. Statistics here aggregate only the list you paste—no external sample dataset. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

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