Free Chapter 13 calculator — estimate your monthly bankruptcy plan payment, disposable monthly income, repayment period, and total debt discharged at completion. Covers both 3-year and 5-year Chapter 13 repayment plans.
✓ Last verified: March 2026 · Based on US Bankruptcy Code & IRS Standards
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Calculator
Enter your income and debt details to estimate your plan payment and discharge amount
⚠️ Disclaimer: This calculator provides educational estimates only. Actual Chapter 13 plan payments are determined by the bankruptcy court, trustee, and your attorney. Always consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney before filing.
$
Total household income before taxes each month
$
IRS-allowed living expenses (housing, food, transport, utilities)
$
Mortgage arrears, car loans, other secured obligations per month
$
Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans (total balance)
5 years required if income is at or above your state median
Percentage of plan payments taken by trustee
Estimated Monthly Plan Payment
$0
⚠️ Important: These are educational estimates. Your actual Chapter 13 plan is set by the bankruptcy court based on your full financial picture, means test, and attorney analysis. Consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney for a case evaluation.
Official US Courts explanation of Chapter 13 eligibility, plan requirements, trustee role, and discharge provisions
Methodology: Disposable Monthly Income (DMI) = Gross Monthly Income minus Allowed Monthly Expenses. Monthly plan payment = maximum of (DMI, secured debt payments). Total paid over plan = Monthly Payment x Plan Months. Trustee fee = Total Paid x Trustee Rate. Secured total = Secured Monthly x Plan Months. Unsecured creditor pool = max(0, Total Paid minus Secured Total minus Trustee Fee). Discharge amount = max(0, Total Unsecured Debt minus Unsecured Pool). Percentage paid to unsecured = min(100, Unsecured Pool divided by Total Unsecured x 100). These are estimates. Actual plans are court-approved and attorney-verified.
Last reviewed: March 2026 — verified against 11 U.S.C. Chapter 13 provisions and current IRS National Standards tables.
Chapter 13 Calculator — Complete Guide to Estimating Your Bankruptcy Plan Payment
A Chapter 13 calculator helps you estimate the monthly payment you would make under a bankruptcy repayment plan, how much of your unsecured debt would be discharged at completion, and how long your plan would last. Understanding how Chapter 13 plan payments are calculated before filing helps you evaluate whether Chapter 13 is the right option for your financial situation.
Chapter 13 Plan Payment Formula — How It Works
Your Chapter 13 plan payment is primarily driven by your disposable monthly income (DMI) — the amount left after subtracting IRS-allowed living expenses from your gross monthly income. Your payment must be at least enough to cover secured debt obligations and pay unsecured creditors at least as much as they would receive in a Chapter 7 liquidation.
Monthly Plan Payment = max(Disposable Monthly Income, Secured Debt Payments)
Step 1 — Disposable Monthly Income (DMI): Gross Monthly Income minus IRS-allowed expenses Step 2 — Monthly Payment: Higher of DMI or your secured debt obligations Step 3 — Unsecured Pool: Total Paid minus Secured Total minus Trustee Fee (10%) Step 4 — Discharge: Total Unsecured Debt minus Unsecured Pool
Example: Income = $5,000. Allowed expenses = $3,200. DMI = $1,800. Secured = $800/mo. Plan = 5 years.
Monthly payment = $1,800. Total paid = $108,000. Trustee fee = $10,800. Secured total = $48,000.
Unsecured pool = $49,200. If unsecured debt = $40,000 then 100% paid, $0 discharged.
If unsecured debt = $80,000 then $30,800 discharged at plan completion.
3-Year vs 5-Year Chapter 13 Plan — Which Applies to You?
The length of your Chapter 13 plan is determined by your income relative to your state's median income, not your choice. If your current monthly income is below your state median, your plan can be as short as 3 years (36 months). If your income is at or above the state median, the plan must be 5 years (60 months). Most filers end up in 5-year plans.
Plan Length
Who Qualifies
Total Payments
Key Benefit
3 Years (36 mo)
Income below state median
36 x monthly payment
Shorter commitment, faster discharge
5 Years (60 mo)
Income at or above state median
60 x monthly payment
More time to catch up on arrears
What Chapter 13 Pays — Priority Order of Debts
Chapter 13 plans pay debts in a strict priority order set by the Bankruptcy Code. Understanding this priority helps you see why some debts are always paid in full while others may receive only cents on the dollar.
Priority
Debt Type
Payment Treatment
Examples
1st
Domestic support obligations
100% paid
Child support, alimony arrears
2nd
Administrative expenses
100% paid
Trustee fee (~10%), attorney fees
3rd
Priority tax debts
100% paid
Recent income tax, payroll tax
4th
Secured debts
Full value paid
Mortgage arrears, car loans
5th
General unsecured debts
Pro-rata from remaining funds
Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans
Chapter 13 vs Chapter 7 — Key Differences
Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy that discharges most unsecured debts in 3 to 6 months but requires passing a means test and may require surrendering non-exempt assets. Chapter 13 is a reorganization bankruptcy that lets you keep assets (including a home you are behind on) by repaying debts over 3 to 5 years through a court-approved plan. Chapter 13 is often chosen by homeowners facing foreclosure, people with non-exempt assets they want to keep, or those who do not qualify for Chapter 7.
When Does Chapter 13 Make Sense?
Saving your home: If you are behind on mortgage payments, Chapter 13 lets you cure arrears over the plan period while resuming regular payments, stopping foreclosure immediately upon filing through the automatic stay.
Non-dischargeable debts: Tax debts owed to the IRS that are within 3 years of the return due date must be paid in full. Chapter 13 lets you repay these over 5 years interest-free rather than facing IRS collection actions.
Protecting co-signers: The Chapter 13 co-debtor stay protects co-signers of consumer debts from collection during the plan period, which Chapter 7 does not provide.
💡 Pro tip — File before missed payments accumulate: The automatic stay takes effect the moment you file a Chapter 13 petition, immediately stopping foreclosure, repossession, wage garnishment, and creditor calls. Many homeowners wait too long and file after a foreclosure sale date is set. Filing even one day before the sale can stop it. If you are considering Chapter 13, consult an attorney before your situation deteriorates further.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Chapter 13 payment calculated? +
A Chapter 13 plan payment is based on your disposable monthly income (DMI), which is gross monthly income minus allowed living expenses under IRS National and Local Standards. Your payment must also be enough to cover secured debt obligations and pay unsecured creditors at least as much as they would receive in Chapter 7 liquidation. The trustee receives approximately 10% of all payments as an administrative fee included in your plan payment.
How long does a Chapter 13 plan last? +
A Chapter 13 repayment plan lasts either 3 years or 5 years depending on your income relative to your state median income. If your current monthly income is below the state median, your plan can be 3 years (36 months). If your income is at or above the state median, the plan must be 5 years (60 months). Most Chapter 13 plans run for 5 years because most filers have income above the state median.
What is disposable monthly income in Chapter 13? +
Disposable monthly income (DMI) is the amount left after subtracting allowed monthly expenses from gross monthly income. Allowed expenses are set by IRS National Standards and Local Standards, not your actual spending. DMI becomes the minimum monthly plan payment that must go to unsecured creditors. A positive DMI means you have funds available for unsecured creditors after secured debt payments are satisfied.
What debts are paid in a Chapter 13 plan? +
Chapter 13 plans pay debts in priority order. First come domestic support obligations (child support and alimony arrears) which must be paid 100%. Next come administrative expenses including the trustee fee and attorney fees. Then come priority tax debts. Secured debts like mortgage arrears and car loan balances are paid next. Unsecured debts like credit cards and medical bills receive whatever is left, and any remaining balance is discharged at plan completion.
How much of my debt is discharged in Chapter 13? +
The discharge amount depends on how much you pay into the plan versus your total unsecured debt. If your plan pays unsecured creditors 30 cents on the dollar, 70% of that unsecured debt is discharged at completion. Some filers pay 0% to unsecured creditors and discharge 100% of unsecured debt. Others pay 100% and discharge nothing because their disposable monthly income fully covers all debts over the plan period.
What is the Chapter 13 trustee fee? +
The Chapter 13 trustee receives a percentage of all plan payments as an administrative fee, typically around 10% and capped at 10% by statute in most jurisdictions. If your plan payment is $1,200 per month, approximately $120 goes to the trustee each month leaving $1,080 to distribute to creditors. The trustee fee is built into your total monthly plan payment and does not add to the amount.
Can I keep my house in Chapter 13? +
Yes. One of the primary purposes of Chapter 13 is to allow homeowners to cure mortgage arrears and save their home from foreclosure. You cure the arrears through the plan while continuing to make regular monthly mortgage payments outside the plan. As long as you complete the plan and stay current on regular mortgage payments you can keep your home. The automatic stay stops foreclosure immediately upon filing.
What happens if I miss a Chapter 13 payment? +
Missing Chapter 13 plan payments can lead to case dismissal. If dismissed, the automatic stay protecting you from creditors is lifted and collection, garnishment, and foreclosure can resume. You can request a plan modification if your financial circumstances change, or convert to Chapter 7. Some districts allow a cure period for missed payments before dismissal, and your attorney can often file a motion to modify the plan if you experience a temporary hardship.