Massachusetts Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator (2026)
The Massachusetts Chapter 7 Means Test (Part 1)
Compare your household income to the Massachusetts median for your household size, using U.S. Trustee figures effective July 15, 2026. Nothing you enter is stored.
Massachusetts 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 | $88,202 | $7,350 | $44,101 |
| 2 | $112,708 | $9,392 | $56,354 |
| 3 | $139,411 | $11,618 | $69,706 |
| 4 | $178,524 | $14,877 | $89,262 |
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.
A Massachusetts Six-Month Example
Assume a two-person Massachusetts household received $8,453 in each of the six complete calendar months before filing. The six-month total would be $50,718, the current monthly average would be $8,453, and the annualized income would be $101,436. That is $11,272 below the two-person Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Changes The Means-Test Estimate
The first comparison is not a national income limit. It uses the Massachusetts median for the household size and the government table in effect on the filing date. On this page, the annual figures run from $88,202 for one person to $178,524 for four people, a difference of $90,322. A five-person Massachusetts household would use $189,624 before moving to the expense portion of the test.
A Massachusetts Close-To-The-Line Example
If a two-person household averaged $9,204 monthly during the six-month lookback period, its annualized income would be $110,448. That is only $2,260 below the current two-person Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Can Matter
Massachusetts is served by the District of Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts, so a statewide median-income result should not be treated as a complete eligibility decision.
| Item | Why It Matters In Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Filing Date | Controls which U.S. Trustee median table applies. |
| Household Size | Changes the Massachusetts 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 A Massachusetts 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
Reading Your Massachusetts Means Test Result
The Massachusetts test is not a single number. Part 1 checks your income against the Massachusetts median for your size; Part 2 (Form 122A-2) then subtracts allowed expenses if you are over. Plenty of Massachusetts households that look over the Massachusetts median still qualify once those costs come out, and Social Security is generally left out of the income figure. The full means test guide walks through the deductions.
Over The Massachusetts Median Is Not A Dead End
A Massachusetts income above the median just means Part 2 decides it. After the allowed Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts
Chapter 7 is one tool, not the only one. Many Massachusetts 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. You can check available debt relief options at no cost and with no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for Chapter 7 in Massachusetts?
It is the Massachusetts median family income for your household size. Effective July 15, 2026, it is $88,202 for 1 person, $112,708 for 2, $139,411 for 3, and $178,524 for 4, adding $11,100 per additional person. At or below that Massachusetts figure, you generally pass Part 1.
What if my income is above the Massachusetts median?
Not a problem on its own. An income over the Massachusetts median simply moves you to Part 2, which deducts housing, transportation, taxes, and support, and plenty of Massachusetts filers pass there.
Does this calculator run the full Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts 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.
Official Source
Related Resources
- National Chapter 7 means test calculator
- Bankruptcy exemptions calculator
- Debt settlement vs. bankruptcy
- All debt and tax calculators
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