Chapter 13 Payment Calculator
A Chapter 13 repayment plan must pay certain debts in full — priority debts like back taxes and support arrears, the arrears on secured loans you want to keep, and attorney or administrative fees — plus at least as much to unsecured creditors as they would receive in a Chapter 7 liquidation. Enter your numbers for a simplified monthly payment estimate over a 36- or 60-month plan. Runs entirely in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Chapter 13 monthly payment calculated?
In simplified form: add up everything the plan must pay — priority debts in full, secured arrears being cured, unpaid attorney/administrative fees, and the minimum unsecured creditors must receive (your non-exempt equity, or your projected disposable income over the plan, whichever is higher). Divide by the plan length, then gross up for the trustee's percentage fee. A 60-month plan spreads the same total over more months than a 36-month plan.
What debts must be paid in full in Chapter 13?
Priority debts — recent income taxes, child support and alimony arrears, and wages owed to employees — must be paid in full through the plan. If you want to keep a house or car, you must also cure the arrears on those secured loans over the life of the plan, while keeping current payments going outside or inside the plan.
What is the trustee fee in Chapter 13?
The Chapter 13 trustee takes a percentage of every plan payment as compensation, typically 3–10% depending on the district, capped by statute at 10%. Because the fee comes out of your payments, a 10% trustee fee means your gross payment is the net plan amount divided by 0.90 — it meaningfully raises the monthly figure.
Do unsecured creditors get paid in full in Chapter 13?
Not necessarily. Unsecured creditors must receive at least as much as they would in a Chapter 7 liquidation — that is your non-exempt equity — and at least all of your projected disposable income over the commitment period. Many plans pay unsecured creditors only a fraction of what they are owed; some pay them in full. It depends on your income, equity, and the plan length.
How long does a Chapter 13 plan last?
Plans run 3 to 5 years. If your income is below your state's median, a 36-month plan may be enough; above-median debtors generally must propose a 60-month plan. Longer plans lower the monthly payment but you stay in bankruptcy longer and pay more in trustee fees over time.
Can my Chapter 13 payment change after confirmation?
Yes. Payments can be modified if your income changes significantly, if claims come in higher or lower than estimated, or if you fall behind. Many debtors also convert to Chapter 7 or dismiss the case if the plan becomes unworkable — another reason the initial estimate should be built on realistic numbers.