Includes debtor, spouse, and dependents.
Prior 6 Full Calendar Months of Gross Income
Enter total gross income from all sources (wages, self-employment, rent, benefits, pensions) for each of the prior 6 full calendar months before filing.
Your Results
Enter your 6-month income and click run.
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Introduction
Roughly 380,000 Americans file Chapter 7 bankruptcy each year, and every one of them must pass the means test under 11 U.S.C. section 707(b). The test exists to stop high-income filers from wiping out debts they could realistically repay in a Chapter 13 plan. The math is unforgiving: average your gross income from all sources over the prior six full calendar months, annualize it, and compare it to the median family income for your state and household size published by the U.S. Trustee Program. Come in at or below the median and you generally qualify. Come in above and you face Form 122A-2, a deduction-heavy calculation that produces a presumption of abuse if your monthly disposable income crosses set thresholds. This calculator handles step one using the official April 1, 2026 median income figures.
What This Calculator Does
This tool runs step one of the Chapter 7 means test. You enter your state, household size, and total gross income from all sources for each of the prior six full calendar months before filing. The calculator sums the six months, divides by six to get your Current Monthly Income (CMI), annualizes it, and compares the result to the official U.S. Trustee Program median family income for your state and household size. If your annualized CMI is at or below the state median, no presumption of abuse arises and Form 122A-2 is not required. If you are above median, the tool flags it so you know to complete the full deduction calculation with a bankruptcy attorney.
The Formula
Current Monthly Income is a statutory term defined in 11 U.S.C. section 101(10A). Despite the name, it is not your current monthly income. It is the average monthly gross income from all sources during the six full calendar months immediately before the month you file, divided by six. All sources means wages, self-employment net income, rent, dividends, pensions, Social Security benefits (with a narrow exception), unemployment, and regular contributions from others. The annualized figure is compared to the Census Bureau median family income for your state and household size, adjusted by the U.S. Trustee Program and updated roughly every six months. For households larger than four, add the published per-additional-person amount for each person above four.
Step-by-Step Example
Select your state and household size
A California couple filing jointly selects California and household size 2. The April 1, 2026 median for a 2-person California household is $102,797.
Enter gross income for the prior 6 full calendar months
If filing in July 2026, enter income for January through June 2026. Example: $3,500 each month from wages, $0 from other sources. Six-month total: $21,000.
Review the annualized CMI
CMI = $21,000 / 6 = $3,500/month. Annualized: $3,500 x 12 = $42,000.
Compare to the state median
$42,000 is well below the $102,797 California 2-person median. No presumption of abuse. Form 122A-2 is not required and Chapter 7 is generally available.
Real-World Use Cases
Pre-Filing Eligibility Check
Debtors and bankruptcy attorneys run the means test before filing to confirm Chapter 7 is available and avoid a dismissed case or forced conversion to Chapter 13.
Above-Median Strategy
Filers whose income exceeds the median use the result to decide whether to complete Form 122A-2 deductions, wait a month or two to lower their 6-month average, or pivot to Chapter 13 repayment.
Chapter 13 vs. Chapter 7 Decision
Above-median debtors who fail the means test must file Chapter 13, where plan length is 60 months instead of 36. Knowing this early shapes the entire filing strategy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using net (take-home) pay instead of gross income. The means test uses gross income from all sources before taxes and deductions. Using net pay understates CMI and can produce a false pass.
Counting the wrong six months. The six full calendar months before filing, not the prior six months from today. A July 15 filing uses January through June, not mid-January through mid-July.
Omitting non-wage income. Self-employment net profit, rental income, gig work, unemployment benefits, pensions, and regular family contributions all count. Social Security retirement and disability benefits are excluded under the 2005 BAPCPA amendment, but SSI and most other government benefits are included.
Miscounting household size. Household size includes the debtor, a non-filing spouse, and anyone who depends on the debtor for more than half of their support, including adult disabled children and elderly parents. Getting this wrong changes the applicable median.
Forgetting that passing step one does not guarantee Chapter 7. A U.S. Trustee can still move to dismiss under section 707(b)(3) for abuse based on totality of circumstances, even when the means test is passed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What income counts toward the means test?
Gross income from all sources during the six full calendar months before filing: wages, salary, tips, self-employment net profit, rent, royalties, dividends, pensions, unemployment, and regular contributions from others. Social Security retirement and disability benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act are excluded. SSI, workers compensation, and most other government benefits are included.
How often are the median income figures updated?
The U.S. Trustee Program updates the Census Bureau median family income figures approximately every six months, with adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. The figures used here apply to cases filed on or after April 1, 2026. Always verify the current figures at justice.gov/ust/means-testing before filing.
What happens if my income is above the state median?
You must complete Official Form 122A-2, which deducts allowed living expenses (IRS National and Local Standards), secured debt payments, priority debt payments, and certain other expenses from your CMI. If your remaining monthly disposable income exceeds $182.50 over 60 months (or $10,950 total), a presumption of abuse arises. If it exceeds $304.17 over 60 months (or $18,250 total), the presumption is harder to rebut.
Does my spouse count even if they are not filing?
Yes. In a non-community property state, the non-filing spouse income is included in the means test calculation on a pro-rata basis unless you are legally separated or living apart. In community property states (AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI), the non-filing spouse income is generally included in full.
Can I delay filing to lower my means test income?
Yes, within limits. Because CMI is a rolling six-month average, waiting to file can lower your annualized income if you expect a drop in earnings. This is legitimate pre-filing planning, but artificially stopping work or transferring income to avoid the means test can be treated as bad faith. Consult a bankruptcy attorney before timing a filing.
Accuracy and Disclaimer
This calculator performs step one of the Chapter 7 means test using official U.S. Trustee Program median family income figures for cases filed on or after April 1, 2026. It is for educational purposes and is not legal advice. Passing or failing step one does not determine bankruptcy eligibility, which depends on the full means test, totality of circumstances, prior filings, credit counseling requirements, and other statutory factors. Median income figures change approximately every six months. Consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney in your jurisdiction before filing.
Conclusion
The means test is the first gate every Chapter 7 filer must pass, and getting the six-month income average right is the difference between a clean filing and a dismissed case. Run the numbers here, then take the result to a bankruptcy attorney who can complete Form 122A-2 if you land above median. If Chapter 13 looks likely, pair this with our Debt Payoff Calculator to model a repayment plan, or use the Credit Card Payoff Calculator to see whether you can avoid bankruptcy entirely.
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