Chapter 13 Payment Calculator

How Is a Chapter 13 Payment Calculated? (2026 Guide)

Your chapter 13 payment calculator result depends on three core components: disposable income (monthly income minus reasonable expenses), secured arrears (past-due mortgage/car payments), and priority claims (taxes, child support). Under the Bankruptcy Code, your plan payment must be sufficient to pay priority claims in full over the plan term and cure arrears, plus contribute at least as much as unsecured creditors would receive in a Chapter 7 liquidation. For 2026, median income thresholds have been updated—our calculator applies the standard formula used by most trustees.

Key Factors Affecting Your Monthly Payment

• Disposable Income (Form 122C-2): IRS national & local standards cap certain expenses. Lower disposable income reduces the base payment.
• Secured Debt Arrearage: Spread over 36–60 months. Example: $9,000 arrears / 60 months = $150/month added.
• Priority Unsecured Claims: Must be paid 100% during the plan. This increases your required monthly contribution.
• Above/Below Median Income: Above-median debtors often face a 5-year plan with stricter expense limits.
• Chapter 7 Liquidation Test: Unsecured creditors must receive at least what they'd get if you filed Chapter 7 (asset value).

Exclusive 2026 Insight: 5 Documents You Need Before Calculating

1. Last 6 months of pay stubs (to calculate CMI – Current Monthly Income).
2. Tax returns (last 2 years) to identify priority tax obligations.
3. Mortgage/car loan statements showing delinquency amounts.
4. Child support or alimony orders (priority claims).
5. Schedule J expenses (living expenses).

Pro tip: Many debtors underestimate expenses. Using the chapter 13 monthly payment calculator with realistic numbers prevents plan failure. For 2026, the national standard for a single person’s housing/utilities increased by 4.2%, which could lower disposable income and reduce your payment.

How to Calculate Chapter 13 Payments Step by Step

Follow this simple methodology to manually estimate your chapter 13 bankruptcy payment calculator results:

1. Determine monthly disposable income: Gross income – payroll deductions – allowed living expenses (IRS standards).
2. Calculate arrearage cure amount: Total secured arrears ÷ plan months.
3. Add priority claims monthly: Total priority debt ÷ plan months.
4. Base payment = disposable income + arrearage monthly + priority monthly.
5. Apply trustee fee (usually 8-10%): Total payment = base payment ÷ (1 – trustee fee %).
6. Check unsecured dividend floor: Ensure unsecured creditors receive ≥ Chapter 7 liquidation amount.

Our interactive chapter 13 payment plan calculator automates these steps while factoring in the 2026 median income limits for all 50 states. For Texas, Florida, California or other states, the same formula applies but local expense standards may differ. The calculator above provides a reliable starting point for calculate chapter 13 payment Missouri or chapter 13 payment calculator Arizona scenarios.