Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator
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Use this free chapter 7 means test calculator to get a quick sense of whether your household income may qualify for chapter 7 bankruptcy. Based on your state, household size, income, and certain allowed expenses, it walks you through the main parts of the chapter 7 means test in plain, everyday language.
The means test is often one of the first steps in deciding if chapter 7 is an option. It looks at your recent income and compares it to the median incomefor households like yours in your state. If your income is above that median, the test can continue by reviewing allowed deductions to estimate how much, if any, disposable income you may have left to pay creditors.
This calculator is meant to be a practical starting point, not a sales tool. It does not ask for your name, phone number, or email address. When you’re done, you can print your results or save them as a PDF for your own records.
Free chapter 7 means test estimate — no contact information required.
Your result is educational, not legal advice. It can help you understand whether chapter 7 appears worth reviewing or whether chapter 13, filing timing, deductions, or debt classification may need a closer look.
How Our Means Test Calculator Works
This interactive tool calculates your eligibility estimate in three simple steps:
- 1. Select Your State & Household Size: The tool instantly pulls the current 2026 U.S. Trustee median income data for your specific region.
- 2. Input Your Income: Enter your gross wages, business income, and other qualifying sources over the last six months.
- 3. Review Your Estimate: The tool automatically applies standard deductions to give you an immediate educational estimate on whether you pass the presumption of abuse test.
Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator
Estimate whether your household income is above or below your state’s median income for educational planning.
Educational estimate only. This Chapter 7 means test calculator is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and cannot account for every legal nuance. Attorney review may still be necessary.
Step 1: Initial Screening
If filing alone, household starts at 1. If filing jointly, household starts at 2. Add only additional dependents here.
Consumer debts are usually personal, family, or household debts.
Median-income dataset effective April 1, 2026. IRS/local standards preset date: Configurable - update with current IRS + USTP data. Presumption thresholds: $10,025 and $16,700 (60-month).
What This Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator Does
This calculator gives you a rough, practical look at whether you may pass the chapter 7 means test. It follows the same main ideas used in the official test: your state, your household size, your recent income, and certain allowed expenses.
- Looks at your recent income, annualizes it, and compares it to the median income for a household of your size in your state.
- Shows whether you appear below the median, above the median, or somewhere in between where things may need a closer look.
- When the above-median deduction analysis applies, walks you through common allowed expenses that could change the overall result.
- Lets you know when the numbers might point to a possible presumption-of-abuse issue that deserves professional review.
- Provides a clear summary you can print or save as a PDF for your own records.
This tool does not decide your case or replace legal advice. A trustee, creditor, attorney, or court may weigh factors the calculator cannot fully address, such as unusual income, disputed or changing expenses, business debts, questions about household size, or local practice in your area.
Before You Start: What Information You Need
Having a few key details in front of you can make your chapter 7 means test estimate much more accurate and less stressful. In most cases, the means test looks at the income you received during the six full calendar months before the month you file.
Before using the calculator, it helps to gather:
- Gross income for each of the last six full calendar months
- Your household size
- The state where you expect to file bankruptcy
- Pay stubs, profit-and-loss records, or benefit statements
- Mortgage, rent, vehicle, tax, support, insurance, and secured-debt payment information
- Information about unemployment, bonuses, overtime, commissions, or any recent job changes
If your income has recently gone up or down, become irregular, or includes self-employment income, the means test may call for a closer look. Timing can matter because that six-month lookback window shifts forward with each new month.
How the Chapter 7 Means Test Works
The chapter 7 means test is a formula used to decide whether someone appears eligible for chapter 7 bankruptcy or whether their income suggests they may have enough disposable income to repay some creditors through chapter 13.
The test usually starts with your current monthly income. In most cases, that means the average gross income you received during the six full calendar months before the month you file. That income is then annualized and compared to the median income for your state and household size.
Because the means test uses state-specific median income figures, your result depends partly on the state where you plan to file. A household with the same income can be below median in one state and above median in another.
Step 1: Compare Your Income to Your State Median Income
If your annualized income is below the median income for your state and household size, you generally pass the first part of the means test. That does not automatically mean chapter 7 is the best choice for you, but it usually makes the income-eligibility analysis more straightforward.
Step 2: If You Are Above Median, Review Allowed Deductions
If your income is above the median, you are not automatically disqualifiedfrom chapter 7. The means test continues by subtracting allowed expenses. Some expenses are based on standardized amounts, while others depend on your actual payments or specific bankruptcy rules.
After those deductions are applied, the test estimates whether you have enough disposable income to repay creditors. If the estimated disposable income is too high, a presumption of abuse may arise. That does not always end the analysis, but it usually means your case requires a closer review.
What Income Counts in the Chapter 7 Means Test?
The chapter 7 means test usually starts by looking at the income you received during the six-month lookback period. For many people, this can include pay from work, side jobs, business income, rental income, retirement income, unemployment benefits, and other money that regularly comes into the household.
- Wages and salary
- Overtime, bonuses, and commissions
- Business or self-employment income
- Rental income
- Unemployment compensation
- Pension or retirement income
- Regular contributions from others for household expenses
Some types of income are handled differently under the rules, and certain benefits may need extra attention. Social Security benefits, for example, are often treated differently from ordinary wages when it comes to the means test.
What Income May Be Treated Differently?
Some income is treated differently under the means test. Social Security benefits and certain other benefits received under the Social Security Act are generally excluded from current monthly income. Other payments may also be excluded or require special treatment under the bankruptcy rules, so it is important to understand how your specific income sources are treated.
This is one reason the calculator should be viewed as an estimate. If your income is irregular, has changed recently, or comes from several different sources, the means test may require a more detailed review before you decide whether chapter 7 is available.
What Your Means Test Result Means
Below Median
If your income is below the median income for your state and household size, it is often easier to see whether chapter 7 might work for you. You may not need the full above-median deduction analysis, but you still need to look carefully at your property, exemptions, debts, any recent transfers, and whether chapter 7 actually addresses the problems you are facing.
Above Median but May Still Pass
Having income above the median does not automatically rule out chapter 7. The next part of the means test focuses on allowed deductions. Mortgage and car payments, taxes, support obligations, insurance, healthcare costs, and other permitted expenses can all change the final result.
Possible Presumption-of-Abuse Issue
If the calculator suggests a presumption-of-abuse issue, it means your estimated disposable income may be high enough that the case needs closer review. This does not mean you are out of options. It may be important to revisit deductions, the timing of your filing, household size, how your debts are classified, any special circumstances, and whether chapter 13 might be a better fit for your situation.
Common Chapter 7 Means Test Mistakes
Small mistakes on the means test can lead to a misleading result. Any calculator is only as accurate as the information you enter, so it helps to understand where people often go wrong.
- Using take-home pay instead of gross income: The means test usually starts with gross income, not the net amount you receive after taxes and other deductions.
- Using the wrong six-month period: The lookback period is typically the six full calendar months before the month you file your case.
- Forgetting irregular or non-wage income: Bonuses, overtime, commissions, gig work, business income, rental income, and regular household contributions can all affect the calculation. Certain benefits, including Social Security benefits, may be excluded or handled differently under the means test rules.
- Ignoring household size issues: Household size can affect how your income compares to the median income and may require careful review, especially in shared or blended households.
- Assuming above-median income makes chapter 7 impossible:Many people with income above the median still need a full deduction analysis before deciding whether chapter 7 is available.
- Assuming passing the means test makes chapter 7 completely safe:Property, exemptions, recent transfers, lawsuits, and the kinds of debts you have still need to be reviewed separately.
- Overlooking timing: A job loss, raise, bonus, period of heavy overtime, or a recent income drop can change the means test result depending on when the case is filed.
What This Calculator Cannot Tell You
- • It cannot give legal advice or guarantee court outcomes.
- • It cannot classify every debt issue exactly like a trustee or judge.
- • It cannot replace a full attorney review of exemptions, assets, and local practice.
Official Forms and Data Sources
Median income references are based on the U.S. Trustee means testing data. Means test form structure and definitions follow the official U.S. bankruptcy forms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the chapter 7 means test based on gross or net income?
It is generally based on gross income received during the lookback period, not take-home pay.
What months are used for the chapter 7 means test?
The test usually uses the 6 full calendar months before the month you file.
Can I pass the means test if I am over the median income?
Yes. Many filers above median may still pass after allowable deductions are applied.
Does Social Security count in the chapter 7 means test?
In many cases, Social Security benefits are treated differently from most other income for means test purposes.
What happens if I do not pass the means test?
You may still have options, including reviewing deductions, filing timing, debt classification, or considering chapter 13.
Is this calculator legal advice?
No. It is an educational estimate tool only.
Can I print my results?
Yes. The calculator includes an option at the end to print or save your results as a PDF.
Where do the median income numbers come from?
They come from U.S. Trustee Program means testing tables, which are updated periodically.
What if my income changed recently?
A recent job loss, raise, bonus, change in overtime, or drop in income can affect your means test result because the six-month lookback period depends on when you file. In these situations, filing timing often requires careful review.
Does the means test decide whether I should file bankruptcy?
No. The means test is only one part of the chapter 7 eligibility analysis. You also need to consider exemptions, assets, debts, secured loans, lawsuits, recent transfers, and whether chapter 7 or chapter 13 is more likely to solve your actual financial problem.
What if most of my debt is business debt?
The chapter 7 presumption-of-abuse means test generally applies to people whose debts are primarily consumer debts. If your debts are primarily business-related, you may be exempt from that part of the means test. Determining whether a debt is consumer or business debt can be complicated and should be reviewed carefully.
Can I use this calculator before talking to a lawyer?
Yes. The calculator can help you organize your information and identify potential issues before speaking with a bankruptcy attorney. It is an educational tool and does not replace legal advice based on your specific circumstances.
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Educational disclaimer: US Bankruptcy Help is an educational publisher, not a law firm. This page provides general information, not legal advice.
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