Chapter 13 Repayment Plan Estimator
Estimate your monthly Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan payment based on your disposable income, secured debts, priority debts, and plan duration. This tool provides an educational estimate only — consult a bankruptcy attorney for legal advice.
Formulas Used
Monthly Disposable Income (MDI):
MDI = Gross Monthly Income − Allowable Monthly Expenses
Three Minimum Plan Pool Tests (gross, before trustee fee):
- Disposable Income Test: Pool₁ = MDI × Plan Months
- Best-Interest-of-Creditors Test: Pool₂ = Non-Exempt Asset Value ÷ (1 − Trustee Fee Rate)
- Mandatory Debt Test: Pool₃ = (Secured Debt + Priority Debt) ÷ (1 − Trustee Fee Rate)
Minimum Plan Pool = max(Pool₁, Pool₂, Pool₃)
Monthly Plan Payment:
Monthly Payment = Minimum Plan Pool ÷ Plan Months
Trustee Fees:
Total Trustee Fees = Total Plan Payments × Trustee Fee Rate
Net to Creditors:
Net = Total Plan Payments − Total Trustee Fees
Creditor Distribution Priority:
1. Priority unsecured (paid in full first) → 2. Secured (paid in full) → 3. General unsecured (remainder)
Assumptions & References
- Based on 11 U.S.C. § 1325 (confirmation requirements for Chapter 13 plans).
- The disposable income test (§ 1325(b)) requires above-median debtors to commit all projected disposable income for 60 months; below-median debtors may use 36 months.
- The best-interest-of-creditors test (§ 1325(a)(4)) requires unsecured creditors to receive at least what they would in a Chapter 7 liquidation (i.e., the value of non-exempt assets).
- Priority debts under 11 U.S.C. § 507 (taxes, domestic support obligations, etc.) must be paid in full under § 1322(a)(2).
- Trustee fees are set by the U.S. Trustee Program; the default 10% is a common estimate. Actual rates vary by district (typically 5–10%).
- Allowable expenses are based on IRS National and Local Standards plus actual secured debt payments, per the means test (§ 707(b)(2)).
- This calculator does not account for interest on secured claims (Till rate), mortgage arrears cure, or lien stripping — consult an attorney for a complete analysis.
- This tool is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.