Free Chapter 13 payment calculator — calculate your monthly bankruptcy plan payment with a full breakdown by trustee fee, secured debt obligations, priority tax payments, and unsecured creditor distributions. Updated with 2025 bankruptcy payment guidance.
✓ Last verified: March 2026 · US Bankruptcy Code & IRS Standards
Chapter 13 Monthly Payment Breakdown Calculator
Enter your income, expenses, and debt details to see your full monthly payment breakdown
⚠️ Disclaimer: This calculator provides educational estimates. Actual Chapter 13 plan payments are set by the bankruptcy court and trustee based on your full financial picture. Always consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney before filing.
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Total household income before taxes and deductions
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IRS National and Local Standard allowances for your household
Most filers are above state median -- 5 year plan
Fee taken from each plan payment before distribution
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Total past-due mortgage amount to catch up over plan (enter 0 if none)
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Monthly secured vehicle or other secured loan payment in plan
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IRS or state tax debt from within the past 3 years (enter 0 if none)
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Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans (total balance)
Monthly Plan Payment to Trustee
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⚠️ Important: These are educational estimates. Your actual Chapter 13 payment is set by the court, trustee, and your attorney based on your full financial situation. Consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney for a case evaluation.
Official US Courts explanation of Chapter 13 payment structure, trustee role, and plan distribution priority
Methodology: Monthly plan payment = max(Disposable Monthly Income, required secured payments). DMI = Gross Income minus IRS-allowed expenses. Trustee fee = plan payment x trustee rate (10% standard). Net to creditors = plan payment x (1 - trustee rate). Priority payment waterfall per month: (1) Secured: car payment + mortgage arrears divided by plan months, (2) Priority tax: total tax debt divided by plan months, (3) Unsecured: remaining net after secured and priority. Total plan = plan payment x plan months. Unsecured pool = total paid minus secured total minus trustee fee minus tax total. Discharge = max(0, total unsecured minus unsecured pool).
Last reviewed: March 2026 -- payment methodology verified against 11 U.S.C. Chapter 13 provisions and current IRS National Standards tables.
Chapter 13 Payment Calculator -- How Your Monthly Payment Is Distributed
When you file Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you make a single monthly payment to your bankruptcy trustee. The trustee then distributes that payment to your creditors in a strict priority order set by the US Bankruptcy Code. Understanding exactly how your payment is divided each month helps you evaluate whether Chapter 13 is the right option and whether a proposed plan is feasible.
The Chapter 13 Payment Waterfall -- Priority Distribution Order
Monthly Plan Payment = DMI (Disposable Monthly Income)
From your monthly payment, the trustee distributes in this order:
1. Trustee administrative fee (~10% of payment)
2. Domestic support obligations (child support, alimony arrears) -- 100% paid
3. Secured debts: mortgage arrear cure + car loan payments
4. Priority tax debts (IRS, state -- pro-rated over plan term)
5. General unsecured debts (credit cards, medical -- get what remains)
The Chapter 13 trustee receives a percentage of every plan payment as an administrative fee -- typically 10% capped by statute, though some districts charge 7% to 9%. If your monthly plan payment is $2,000, approximately $200 goes to the trustee each month and only $1,800 is available for distribution to creditors. Over a 5-year plan at $2,000 per month, the trustee receives approximately $12,000 in fees. These fees are included in your plan payment amount, not added on top.
Secured vs Unsecured Creditors -- Why Some Get More
Secured creditors (mortgage lenders, auto lenders) are protected by collateral and must be paid in full over the plan period or they can repossess the collateral. If you have $12,000 in mortgage arrears on a 5-year plan, $200 of every monthly plan payment goes toward curing those arrears, regardless of how little is left for unsecured creditors. Secured creditors are paid before unsecured creditors in every monthly distribution.
Unsecured creditors (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans) receive only what remains after trustee fees, secured payments, and priority debts are satisfied. In many Chapter 13 cases, unsecured creditors receive just 5 to 30 cents on the dollar, with the remaining balance discharged at plan completion. The minimum unsecured distribution must equal what creditors would receive in a Chapter 7 liquidation.
When Your Payment May Be Higher Than Your DMI
Your minimum plan payment equals your disposable monthly income. But if your secured debt obligations (car payments plus mortgage arrear cure) exceed your DMI, your plan payment must be higher than your DMI to cover those secured obligations in full. In that case, the secured payment floor drives the payment higher than income alone would suggest, and the unsecured distribution may be zero or near-zero.
💡 Pro tip -- The 36-month vs 60-month choice: If you qualify for a 3-year plan (income below state median), your monthly payment will be higher than a 5-year plan for the same total debt, but you finish 2 years faster and pay less in total trustee fees. Compare your 36-month payment versus 60-month payment carefully. For filers with large unsecured debt and modest secured obligations, the 60-month plan spreads payments lower and may be more sustainable, even if it takes longer to complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Chapter 13 monthly payment calculated? +
A Chapter 13 monthly payment equals your disposable monthly income (DMI), calculated as gross income minus IRS-allowed living expenses. The payment must also be at least enough to cover all secured debt obligations (car payments, mortgage arrear cure) and priority debts pro-rated over the plan term. From each payment, the trustee takes approximately 10% as an administrative fee and distributes the remaining 90% to creditors in priority order.
What is included in a Chapter 13 monthly payment? +
A Chapter 13 monthly payment includes four components: the trustee administrative fee (typically 10%), monthly secured debt obligations such as mortgage arrear catch-up payments and car loan payments, monthly pro-rated priority tax debt payments, and any remaining amount distributed to unsecured creditors such as credit cards and medical bills. You make one payment to the trustee who distributes it to each creditor.
How much does the Chapter 13 trustee take from your payment? +
The Chapter 13 trustee takes approximately 10% of every plan payment as an administrative fee, capped at 10% by statute in most jurisdictions. This fee is included in your plan payment, not added on top. If your payment is $1,500 per month, approximately $150 goes to the trustee and $1,350 is distributed to creditors. The trustee fee varies by district from about 7% to 10%.
Can my Chapter 13 payment change during the plan? +
Yes. Chapter 13 payments can be modified after confirmation if your financial circumstances change significantly. An income increase may require higher payments. A job loss or medical emergency can justify a payment reduction or plan conversion to Chapter 7. Your bankruptcy attorney files a motion to modify the plan. Some changes require court approval while others may be handled administratively by the trustee depending on the district.
What happens if I miss a Chapter 13 payment? +
Missing Chapter 13 payments can lead to case dismissal. The trustee typically sends a notice after a missed payment and may file a motion to dismiss after 2 to 3 consecutive missed payments. If dismissed, the automatic stay lifting immediately allows creditors to resume collection, garnishment, and foreclosure. You can request a plan modification if circumstances changed, or convert to Chapter 7. Some courts allow a cure period before dismissal occurs.
Do I pay my mortgage separately from my Chapter 13 payment? +
In most cases yes. Your regular ongoing mortgage payment is made directly to your lender outside the plan. The plan payment covers mortgage arrears (past-due catch-up amounts) but your regular monthly mortgage continues as a direct obligation. Some districts use conduit plans where all payments including the regular mortgage go through the trustee, while others use direct pay plans. Your attorney will specify which approach applies in your district.
How long do Chapter 13 payments last? +
Chapter 13 plan payments last either 3 years (36 months) for income below your state median, or 5 years (60 months) for income at or above the state median. Most Chapter 13 filers are on 5-year plans because most have income at or above their state median. You must complete all required payments and fulfill all plan obligations before receiving the discharge of remaining unsecured debt.
What is the minimum Chapter 13 payment? +
There is no universal minimum Chapter 13 payment, but the plan must pay creditors at least as much as they would receive in Chapter 7 liquidation (the best interest of creditors test). The payment must also cover all secured obligations and priority debts in full over the plan term. If your disposable monthly income is negative or very low, you may not qualify for Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 may be more appropriate.