Arkansas Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator (2026)
The Arkansas Chapter 7 Means Test (Part 1)
Compare your household income to the Arkansas median for your household size, using U.S. Trustee figures effective July 15, 2026. Nothing you enter is stored.
Arkansas 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 | $58,421 | $4,868 | $29,211 |
| 2 | $73,630 | $6,136 | $36,815 |
| 3 | $82,329 | $6,861 | $41,165 |
| 4 | $97,054 | $8,088 | $48,527 |
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 Arkansas Six-Month Example
Assume a two-person Arkansas household received $5,522 in each of the six complete calendar months before filing. The six-month total would be $33,132, the current monthly average would be $5,522, and the annualized income would be $66,264. That is $7,366 below the two-person Arkansas 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 Arkansas Changes The Means-Test Estimate
The first comparison is not a national income limit. It uses the Arkansas median for the household size and the government table in effect on the filing date. On this page, the annual figures run from $58,421 for one person to $97,054 for four people, a difference of $38,633. A five-person Arkansas household would use $108,154 before moving to the expense portion of the test.
An Arkansas Close-To-The-Line Example
If a two-person household averaged $6,013 monthly during the six-month lookback period, its annualized income would be $72,156. That is only $1,474 below the current two-person Arkansas 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 Arkansas Can Matter
Arkansas is served by the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas. 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 Arkansas, so a statewide median-income result should not be treated as a complete eligibility decision.
| Item | Why It Matters In Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Filing Date | Controls which U.S. Trustee median table applies. |
| Household Size | Changes the Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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
Over The Arkansas Median Is Not A Dead End
A Arkansas income above the median just means Part 2 decides it. After the allowed Arkansas 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.
Reading Your Arkansas Means Test Result
The Arkansas test is not a single number. Part 1 checks your income against the Arkansas median for your size; Part 2 (Form 122A-2) then subtracts allowed expenses if you are over. Plenty of Arkansas households that look over the Arkansas 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.
If Chapter 7 Is Not The Right Fit In Arkansas
Not everyone in Arkansas who can file Chapter 7 should, and not everyone qualifies. If bankruptcy is not the path, an Arkansas debt settlement program may reduce what you owe without a court filing; compare the cost, credit impact, and timeline first. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for Chapter 7 in Arkansas?
It is the Arkansas median family income for your household size. Effective July 15, 2026, it is $58,421 for 1 person, $73,630 for 2, $82,329 for 3, and $97,054 for 4, adding $11,100 per additional person. At or below that Arkansas figure, you generally pass Part 1.
What if my income is above the Arkansas median?
Being above the Arkansas median does not automatically disqualify you. Part 2 of the means test subtracts allowed living expenses, and many above-median Arkansas filers still qualify for Chapter 7 after those deductions.
Does this calculator run the full Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas, 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.
Related Resources
- National Chapter 7 means test calculator
- Bankruptcy exemptions calculator
- Debt settlement vs. bankruptcy
- All debt and tax calculators
