Having a high income does not always mean that you cannot file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Pennsylvania. Nonetheless, many people assume that they cannot file for bankruptcy if their income is high. Fortunately, many people with fairly high incomes can qualify for Chapter 7. In fact, we have successfully represented clients with household incomes well above $100,000 in Chapter 7 cases in our Philadelphia area bankruptcy practice. However, there are things that high-income debtors need to know before attempting to file under Chapter 7. Here are answers to common questions about High-Income bankruptcy.
What constitutes a high income depends on several factors, such as where you live, your living expenses, the size of your family, etc. For example, a salary of $100,000 for a family in rural Pennsylvania goes a lot further than the same earnings in the city center of Philadelphia. That being said, you are a "high-income debtor" for bankruptcy purposes if your household earnings are above the state median income for your family size.
"Household income" is your income from all sources, including your spouse's income. You must include your spouse's income, even if you plan to file individually. However, there are certain types of income that may not count, which we will discuss below.
The bankruptcy court uses U.S. Census Bureau data to determine the Pennsylvania state median income by family size. As of the date of this post, the Pennsylvania state median income is as follows:
*Add $9900 for every family member over 6. Figures for cases filed after May 15, 2023. To find the current Pennsylvania median, click here.
Good news. If your average household gross earnings for the six months before filing for bankruptcy is at or below the state median for your family size, you may file under Chapter 7 (assuming you meet all other requirements).
Not necessarily. If your average gross earnings for the six months before filing is over the median, you will have to take a "means test" to determine if you qualify for Chapter 7. Frequently, the results allow debtors with substantial earnings to file under Chapter 7.
The means test looks at your income after taking out allowable expenses. Some types of income may be excluded from the means test. (See below.) If your income minus allowable expenses is below the median income, you have passed the test. Passing the means test means that you may file under Chapter 7 (if you meet all other requirements). For a detailed explanation of the means test, see my post: "The Bankruptcy Means Test: An Attorney's Explanation."
Quick Note: The importance of family size in determining whether you qualify for Chapter 7 cannot be overstated. We often have clients with seemingly high earnings who are surprised that they fall below the state median. Many of these clients have not considered the size of their families. However, family size is one of the critical factors determining whether you are a high-income debtor.
Example: A family of four making $130,000 would have earnings well above the state median of $122,083 for their family size. (See the chart above.) But what if that family making $130,000 includes five members (the parents, and three children)? Because the state median for a family of five is $131,983, the debtors are below the median and do not have to take the means test.
If you must take the means test, don't panic. High-income debtors often have high allowable expenses, including mortgage payments, car payments, income taxes, etc., that will substantially offset their earnings. Although the means test is complex and requires care, it is not unusual for high-income debtors to pass the test. However, it is essential to retain an attorney who understands the test and has represented high-income debtors. Attention to detail is the name of the game.
If you appear to be over the median, you may still be able to avoid the means test, depending on what type of earnings you have. Not all sources of money count as income for calculating gross earnings.
The Bankruptcy Code excludes Social Security benefits from your gross income on the means test. (For more, see my post on Senior Citizen Bankruptcy.) This exclusion will often bring a debtor's overall gross earnings below the state median, thus avoiding the means test.
Because the Bankruptcy Code focuses on "regular income," you may be able to argue that some irregular earnings do not count as "gross income." However, you must be careful to disclose all income.
Business income counts towards the means test, but you can and should deduct your business expenses. (Be sure to maintain careful income and expense statements.)
Withdraws from 401(k)s and other debtor-owned retirement accounts do not typically count as income for the means test. However, there are exceptions. For example, regular pension benefit payments generally do count as income.
When there are irregular earnings (such as 401k withdrawals, family gifts, etc.), calculating gross earnings can be complicated. Experienced bankruptcy attorneys are used to dealing with such situations.
The bankruptcy code and other statutes have carved out some exceptions to the means test. For example:
If more than 50% of your debts are business-related, you need not take the means test. A word of caution: all of these expenses must be business-related and well-documented. If you have used a credit account or bank account for business and personal use, you must separate the business charges from the personal charges.
Under the bankruptcy code, disabled veterans, active-duty military, and national guard and reservists are exempt from the means test under certain circumstances. See our blog post on service members' protections and our military bankruptcy page for more details.
Congratulations. You have surmounted the biggest obstacle to filing under Chapter 7. However, it is important to note that even if you pass or avoid the means test, you do not automatically get to stay in Chapter 7. You must meet all other requirements. An experienced attorney can ensure that you meet these requirements before filing.
If your income is too high for Chapter 7 after exhausting all of the above options, it's not the end of the world. You can still file for bankruptcy under Chapter 13, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Even if you qualify for Chapter 7, it may not be the best option. There are often good reasons for choosing Chapter 13 over Chapter 7, such as stopping a foreclosure, saving a car from repossession, or protecting non-exempt assets.
In some cases, another non-bankruptcy option such as debt settlement, debtor defense, foreclosure defense, mortgage modification, etc. may be a better solution. Discussing your options with a Pennsylvania bankruptcy lawyer can help you sort out what type of debt relief will work best for your financial situation.
Philadelphia Bankruptcy Attorney is published by Harborstone Law LLP. Harborstone Law represents clients in debt matters in the greater Philadelphia area and throughout Pennsylvania
