Eric PemperFounder, CuraDebt · Est. 2001
Montana Chapter 7 Means Test Calculator (2026)
The Montana Chapter 7 Means Test (Part 1)
Compare your household income to the Montana median for your household size, using U.S. Trustee figures effective July 15, 2026. Nothing you enter is stored.
Montana 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 | $71,310 | $5,943 | $35,655 |
| 2 | $91,452 | $7,621 | $45,726 |
| 3 | $103,285 | $8,607 | $51,643 |
| 4 | $121,698 | $10,142 | $60,849 |
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 Montana Six-Month Example
Assume a two-person Montana household received $6,859 in each of the six complete calendar months before filing. The six-month total would be $41,154, the current monthly average would be $6,859, and the annualized income would be $82,308. That is $9,144 below the two-person Montana 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 Montana Changes The Means-Test Estimate
The first comparison is not a national income limit. It uses the Montana median for the household size and the government table in effect on the filing date. On this page, the annual figures run from $71,310 for one person to $121,698 for four people, a difference of $50,388. A five-person Montana household would use $132,798 before moving to the expense portion of the test.
A Montana Close-To-The-Line Example
If a two-person household averaged $7,469 monthly during the six-month lookback period, its annualized income would be $89,628. That is only $1,824 below the current two-person Montana 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 Montana Can Matter
Montana is served by the District of Montana. 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 Montana, so a statewide median-income result should not be treated as a complete eligibility decision.
| Item | Why It Matters In Montana |
|---|---|
| Filing Date | Controls which U.S. Trustee median table applies. |
| Household Size | Changes the Montana 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 Montana 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
The Two Parts Of The Montana Means Test
Part 1 in Montana is the income screen above: your annualized income against the Montana median for your household size. Clear it and you generally qualify. If your Montana income is higher, Part 2 deducts housing, transportation, taxes, and support on Form 122A-2, and a large share of Montana filers pass there. Social Security generally does not count. Our national means test guide covers Part 2 in detail.
Over The Montana Median Is Not A Dead End
A Montana income above the median just means Part 2 decides it. After the allowed Montana 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 Montana
Chapter 7 is one tool, not the only one. Many Montana 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 Montana?
It is the Montana median family income for your household size. Effective July 15, 2026, it is $71,310 for 1 person, $91,452 for 2, $103,285 for 3, and $121,698 for 4, adding $11,100 per additional person. At or below that Montana figure, you generally pass Part 1.
What if my income is above the Montana median?
Not a problem on its own. An income over the Montana median simply moves you to Part 2, which deducts housing, transportation, taxes, and support, and plenty of Montana filers pass there.
Does this calculator run the full Montana means test?
It covers Part 1 only, the income comparison against the Montana median. Part 2 deductions on Form 122A-2 are not calculated here, so use this as a first read and confirm with a Montana bankruptcy attorney.
Is Social Security counted in the Montana 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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