Iowa Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator (2026)
The Iowa Chapter 7 Means Test (Part 1)
Compare your household income to the Iowa median for your household size, using U.S. Trustee figures effective July 15, 2026. Nothing you enter is stored.
Iowa Chapter 7 Six-Month Income Worksheet
Enter each of the six complete calendar months used for the current monthly income calculation. The worksheet totals the period, calculates the monthly average, and annualizes it. Nothing entered here is stored.
| Household Size | Annual Median | Monthly Equivalent | Six-Month Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $67,617 | $5,635 | $33,809 |
| 2 | $88,800 | $7,400 | $44,400 |
| 3 | $104,133 | $8,678 | $52,067 |
| 4 | $126,058 | $10,505 | $63,029 |
For households larger than four, add $11,100 per additional person to the annual figure. Use the official table in effect on the expected filing date.
An Iowa Six-Month Example
Assume a two-person Iowa household received $6,660 in each of the six complete calendar months before filing. The six-month total would be $39,960, the current monthly average would be $6,660, and the annualized income would be $79,920. That is $8,880 below the two-person Iowa median shown on this page. This illustrates the first income comparison only. It does not decide the full means test or Chapter 7 eligibility.
How Iowa Changes The Means-Test Estimate
The first comparison is not a national income limit. It uses the Iowa median for the household size and the government table in effect on the filing date. On this page, the annual figures run from $67,617 for one person to $126,058 for four people, a difference of $58,441. A five-person Iowa household would use $137,158 before moving to the expense portion of the test.
An Iowa Close-To-The-Line Example
If a two-person household averaged $7,252 monthly during the six-month lookback period, its annualized income would be $87,024. That is only $1,776 below the current two-person Iowa median used here. A bonus, job change, unpaid leave, or a different filing month could change that comparison, which is why the six actual calendar months matter.
Where Location Inside Iowa Can Matter
Iowa is served by the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. The correct filing district depends on venue facts such as where a person has lived or kept a principal residence, assets, or business. Part 2 can also use location-sensitive housing and utility standards. Those allowances may differ by county inside Iowa, so a statewide median-income result should not be treated as a complete eligibility decision.
| Item | Why It Matters In Iowa |
|---|---|
| Filing Date | Controls which U.S. Trustee median table applies. |
| Household Size | Changes the Iowa income threshold, including the added amount above four people. |
| Six-Month Income | Uses income received in the six complete calendar months before filing, not simply current salary. |
| County | Can affect location-based housing and utility allowances used in Part 2. |
| Filing District | Determines the federal bankruptcy court that handles the case. |
Records To Gather For An Iowa Review
- Pay statements and other income records for each of the six complete lookback months.
- Documents supporting household size and regular contributions from other household members.
- Housing, utility, vehicle, tax, insurance, child care, support, and secured-debt amounts that may matter in Part 2.
- The expected filing date and county, especially when the result is close to the median.
Official Resources: U.S. Trustee Means-Testing Data · IRS Local Housing And Utility Standards · U.S. Courts Court Locator
How The Iowa Means Test Works
The Iowa means test runs in two parts. Part 1 compares your annualized income to the Iowa median for your household size, shown above; at or below it, you generally qualify for Chapter 7 in Iowa. Above it, Part 2 (Form 122A-2) subtracts allowed living expenses, and many above-median Iowa filers still pass. Social Security is generally excluded from the income figure. For the full national walkthrough, see our Chapter 7 means test guide.
Over The Iowa Median Is Not A Dead End
A Iowa income above the median just means Part 2 decides it. After the allowed Iowa living-expense deductions, a real share of filers qualify anyway. And if Chapter 7 is not right for you, settlement or Chapter 13 can each solve the problem in a different way.
Other Ways Out Of Debt In Iowa
Chapter 7 is one tool, not the only one. Many Iowa households resolve their debt through settlement or a management plan instead of a filing, each with its own trade-offs on cost, credit, and time. It is worth seeing which fits before you decide. CuraDebt does not provide legal or tax advice. There is no cost to check debt-relief options, and there is no obligation to continue. CuraDebt is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for Chapter 7 in Iowa?
It is the Iowa median family income for your household size. Effective July 15, 2026, it is $67,617 for 1 person, $88,800 for 2, $104,133 for 3, and $126,058 for 4, adding $11,100 per additional person. At or below that Iowa figure, you generally pass Part 1.
What if my income is above the Iowa median?
Not a problem on its own. An income over the Iowa median simply moves you to Part 2, which deducts housing, transportation, taxes, and support, and plenty of Iowa filers pass there.
Does this calculator run the full Iowa means test?
No. It runs Part 1, the income screen, using the official July 15, 2026 medians. It does not calculate Part 2 expense deductions, so treat the result as a starting point and confirm with a licensed bankruptcy attorney.
Is Social Security counted in the Iowa means test?
Social Security benefits are generally excluded from current monthly income for the means test, though most other income is included. A bankruptcy attorney can confirm what counts in your specific situation.
Does CuraDebt give legal advice or file bankruptcy in Iowa, and is it a law firm?
CuraDebt does not provide legal or tax advice. There is no cost to check debt-relief options, and there is no obligation to continue. CuraDebt is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Results vary and are not guaranteed.
Related Resources
- National Chapter 7 means test calculator
- Bankruptcy exemptions calculator
- Debt settlement vs. bankruptcy
- All debt and tax calculators
