Bankruptcy Exemptions Calculator
Bankruptcy Exemptions Calculator (Federal)
Estimate what property the federal bankruptcy exemptions protect and what may be at risk, using the amounts effective April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028. Federal exemptions are available in about 19 states; others require the state's own set. Nothing is stored.
Uses federal exemptions effective April 1, 2025: homestead $31,575, motor vehicle $5,025, household goods $16,850 aggregate, wildcard $1,675 plus up to $15,800 of any unused homestead. Married couples filing jointly can often double these. Your state may require its own exemptions instead. Confirm with a licensed attorney.
What bankruptcy exemptions do
Exemptions are the rules that decide which property you keep when you file bankruptcy. In Chapter 7, exempt property is protected while non-exempt property can be sold to pay creditors. In Chapter 13, you keep your property but your plan must pay unsecured creditors at least the value of anything non-exempt. The calculator estimates this using the federal exemption amounts.
The federal exemption amounts (2025 to 2028)
The federal figures adjust every three years. For cases filed between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2028, the main ones are a homestead exemption of $31,575, a motor vehicle exemption of $5,025, a household-goods exemption of $16,850 in total, and a wildcard of $1,675 plus up to $15,800 of any unused homestead exemption that can be applied to anything. Married couples filing jointly can often double these amounts.
Federal versus state exemptions
About nineteen states let you choose the federal exemptions, while the rest require their own state set, which can be more or less generous. Some states, like Texas and Florida, offer very large homestead protection but require you to use the state system. You cannot mix federal and state exemptions, so which set applies, and where you have lived recently, matters a great deal. This tool estimates the federal set; confirm your state with an attorney.
Protecting property without filing
If the calculator shows property at risk, that is a common reason people compare alternatives to bankruptcy. A debt settlement program or a debt management plan resolves debt without a court filing, which for some people protects assets a Chapter 7 might reach. None is universally better, so it is worth comparing against your real numbers.
How this calculator works
Bankruptcy exemptions decide which property you keep. This tool applies the federal exemptions effective April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028: homestead $31,575, motor vehicle $5,025, household goods $16,850 in total, and a wildcard of $1,675 plus up to $15,800 of any unused homestead. It protects each category up to its limit, then applies the wildcard to any overflow and to cash. About 19 states let filers choose the federal set; the rest require the state's own exemptions, which this tool does not compute. Married couples filing jointly can often double the amounts.
Sources and references
These figures come from primary sources, which are updated as the rules change:
- 11 U.S.C. 522, bankruptcy exemptions
- U.S. Courts, bankruptcy basics
- Federal exemption amounts, 2025-2028
Frequently Asked Questions
What property can I keep in bankruptcy?
It depends on the exemptions that apply to you. The federal exemptions protect up to $31,575 of home equity, $5,025 in a vehicle, $16,850 of household goods, and a $1,675 wildcard plus up to $15,800 of any unused homestead. Property above those limits may be non-exempt. The calculator on this page estimates the federal result.
What is the federal homestead exemption for 2025 to 2028?
For cases filed between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2028, the federal homestead exemption protects $31,575 of equity in your primary residence. Married couples filing jointly can often double it. Many states require their own homestead amount instead of the federal one.
What is the wildcard exemption?
The wildcard is an exemption you can apply to any property. Under the federal system it is $1,675 plus up to $15,800 of any unused portion of your homestead exemption, which is useful for protecting cash or items that do not fit another category.
Can I use the federal exemptions in my state?
Only in about nineteen states that allow the choice. The rest require you to use the state exemption set, and you cannot combine the two. Where you have lived in the recent past also affects which state's rules apply, so this is worth confirming with an attorney.
What happens to property that is not exempt?
In Chapter 7, non-exempt property can be sold by the trustee to pay creditors. In Chapter 13, you keep it but your repayment plan must pay unsecured creditors at least its value. If protecting property is a priority, comparing non-bankruptcy debt relief may be worthwhile.
Does CuraDebt determine exemptions or provide bankruptcy services, and is it a law firm?
CuraDebt is a free service that reviews the information you submit and, where appropriate and permitted by law, matches you with independent, licensed providers for debt relief or tax resolution. CuraDebt is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
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