Handling Tax Debt in a Chapter 7
I will owe more in taxes next year and want to include them in a Chapter 7 I am filing this year. What do I do?
We owe back taxes to the IRS and the State and we probably will owe new taxes to both of them when we file next year. I forgot to adjust our withholding. We are currently planning on filing a 5-year, Chapter 13 bankruptcy soon depending on if or when any wage garnishments get filed. Otherwise we try to wait until we get the taxes done next year before we file. My question is what if we have to file a Chap 13 in November and then we get new tax liabilities in January/February?? Can we estimate them and include them in the November filing? Can we add the taxes after the filing? Or will the IRS and State be able to come after us for any new tax liability incurred after we file? Maybe I should go adjust our withholding and try to get enough withheld to cover any new taxes?? This could involve a lot of money, as there's only 3 months left in the pay year, and I'm not sure if we can afford it, but maybe it's something we need to get done? What happens to any taxes that we don't get paid off by the end of our 5 year, Chapter 13 bankruptcy? Will the IRS and State be waiting on our doorstep with a new wage garnishment?
- Consult with your bankruptcy attorney to make sure your tax debts are included in the bankruptcy.
- Set up a payment plan on any taxes still owing, once your bankruptcy discharges.
- Consider an Offer in Compromise, if you cannot afford to repay your tax debt.
If you file a Chapter 7 or 13 in 2010, it is my understanding that you cannot include future tax obligations in the initial bankruptcy filing. (Readers, I welcome your corrections in the comments below.) The earliest you can file 2010 returns is early in 2011, after the 2010 tax forms and laws are public.
As you suggest, you could pay 2010 estimated taxes now, even before you file. That way, you will not owe money when you file. The problem with this option is affording the expense involved.
Speak with a bankruptcy attorney and ask if you can file the bankruptcy petition in 2010 and then amend it after the 2010 taxes are filed and the tax assessment is in place. This way, you can avoid any problems with the state and federal tax authorities for not paying the 2010 balance in full by the due date.
File your 2010 taxes as soon as you can, so that the assessment is in place at the earliest date possible, then let your attorney know what you owe to both the state and IRS.
Once your bankruptcy case finalizes, the state and IRS will likely contact you in short order, as they are notified by the court when your bankruptcy is discharged. Be proactive. Contact the IRS and the state as soon as your case discharges and negotiate a long-term installment agreement. For the IRS, if the debt is less than $25,000, the payment can be spread out over a number of years. Each state has its own rules for what size tax debt can be included in a time-based payment plan and how long a payment plan can last.
Some tax debts can be reduced through an Offer in Compromise. However, it is likely a person who qualified for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy repayment plan, instead of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy that discharges obligations, will be viewed as able to make payments on the debt. I encourage you to read more about tax debt help and the Offer in Compromise.
Three Rules for Including Federal Tax Debt in a Chapter 7
A common misconception is that tax debts cannot be wiped out in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This is not true. Some tax debts are eligible to be included in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and to be discharged entirely. To include an IRS tax debt in a bankruptcy, the tax debt must meet three basic rules:
- The taxes must have been due for at least three years
- The tax return must have been filed by the taxpayer for at least two years. Returns the IRS files for a taxpayer, called substitute-for-returns, are not eligible for inclusion
- The tax assessment must be in place for at least 240 days
If your tax debt exceeds $25,000, or face a wage or bank levy from a tax debt, or cannot afford to pay a tax debt, get a free consultation with a tax professional.
I hope this information helps you Find. Learn & Save.
Best,
Bill