Summary: Bankruptcy may help with taxes. Consider bankruptcy if you’re dealing with garnishments, frozen accounts, or IRS difficulties. Treatment of taxes depends on various things depending on the type of taxes.

Will bankruptcy make my taxes go away?

Bankruptcy may be a good solution to some types of tax debts and with proper planning, may offer great relief. Time is usually needed to implement a strategy to minimize tax liability, but knowing that there is a way out gives a taxpayer a deep sense of relief and confidence. Bankruptcy can discharge (forgive) only a limited type of taxes. Some taxes, such as sales tax or trust taxes are usually never dischargeable. Other taxes, such as 1040 taxes, may be dischargeable depending on many factors. If your primary struggle is with debt is taxes, non-bankruptcy options may be better.

When to consider bankruptcy for taxes?

  • Your wages are being garnished.
  • Your bank accounts have been frozen.
  • Your business has been shut down by the IRS.
  • The IRS will not allow you to work out an installment agreement.

How are taxes treated in bankruptcy?

Treatment of taxes in bankruptcy will depend on many factors:

Tax classifications in bankruptcy

For the purposes of this information, all references to a “tax” refer to income taxes. Most other types of taxes, like corporate taxes, sales taxes, etc. have similar classifications, but they do differ in several respects, including how and when they take on a certain classification. A taxpayer should contact a knowledgeable tax or bankruptcy attorney for an evaluation.

The different classifications for taxes in bankruptcy can be a little confusing because, in some instances, a certain tax debt can be two classes at once. For instance, for bankruptcy purposes, a tax debt can be both general, unsecured, and priority.

Tax debt can also be considered either secured or unsecured; and, mind-bogglingly, secured and unsecured–at the same time. Is this confusing? Of course, it is. Tax problems would be really easy if things were simple.

Secured taxes

This category of tax debt applies to taxes for which a Federal Tax lien has been properly filed. Further, the taxpayer must own property with equity available to the IRS. A tax lien, when filed, “attaches” to property owned by the taxpayer in a similar way that a mortgage “attaches” to a piece of real estate.

For example, if a taxpayer owes $10k on a tax debt for which a lien is filed, and the taxpayer has $50k in equity in their home, the taxes are “fully secured” by the home equity. To flip the number, if a taxpayer owes $50k and only has $10k in available assets, the taxes are secured to the extent of the $10k and unsecured for $40k. This is a scenario where a tax debt takes on two classifications at once.

Priority taxes

Priority taxes are those that meet any of the following criteria:

  1. The return was due in the last three years,
  2. The tax was assessed within the past 240 days, or
  3. The tax is not yet assessed but is still assessable.

The last one here refers to the Audit Statute Expiration Date being open.

For instance, if a taxpayer files a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, thinks they owe no taxes for the most recent tax year, then the IRS audits the most recent return and assesses a tax, these taxes could be considered priority taxes.

Unsecured (non-priority) taxes

Taxes are considered unsecured when no tax lien has been properly filed. Like the example above, a single tax debt can have both a secured and unsecured portion, if a lien is filed, and depending on how much property the taxpayer owns. To go a little deeper, Unsecured taxes can be split into two categories–dischargeable and non-dischargeable.

Non-dischargeable taxes

This classification includes tax liability on the following: tax returns that have not been filed; taxes that were filed late; or tax returns that were filed fraudulently or in a willful attempt to evade taxes.

Dischargeable tax debts

This is the type of tax debt we like because it means that the taxes are unsecured and are dischargeable in bankruptcy. They have to meet the following five tests:

  1. A tax return was filed on time (including extensions).
  2. The return was filed greater than two years ago.
  3. The return was due greater than three years ago.
  4. The tax owed was assessed greater than 240 days ago.
  5. The taxpayer did not commit fraud or willful evasion.

If a tax debt meets every one of these tests, then it is may be dischargeable in bankruptcy. Each tax year is typically tested separately, as the timing for these tests obviously changes for each tax year.

Letting the taxes age

Wait to become dischargeable

“Letting the taxes age” refers to attempting to wait the period of time necessary for the taxes to become dischargeable. Notice from above that a Priority tax most commonly is a “newer” tax from a tax return that was filed somewhat recently. For instance, if a taxpayer files a tax return on time by April 15th of any given tax year, the tax debt is considered “Priority” until it meets the tests above and then changes class to become an unsecured, dischargeable debt.

A taxpayer cannot simply lay idle and expect the IRS to ignore the tax debt owed for three years, however. A taxpayer must contact a tax attorney and have the tax attorney advise on the best wait to wait it out if that is a possibility. A common way to wait it out is to enter into an Installment Agreement.

Treatment of different tax classes in bankruptcy

Chapter 7
Secured

Taxes secured by property are not dischargeable in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This means that the lien survives the discharge. Typically, a taxpayer can make an Offer-in-Compromise or submit a request for an Installment Agreement after the bankruptcy in order to deal with this debt.

Priority

Taxes that are considered Priority are not dischargeable in Chapter 7. They, like secured taxes, survive the discharge and must be addressed after the bankruptcy case closes. These taxes can be addressed by way of an Installment Agreement or Offer-in-Compromise.

Unsecured (non-priority)

As mentioned above, this class of taxes contains two categories, dischargeable and non-dischargeable (subject to 5 “tests” above.) The dischargeable category is fully dischargeable. This means that the bankruptcy wipes them out! Non-dischargeable, unsecured, non-priority taxes are actually somewhat rare in that the circumstances that would make a tax debt have such a classification are quite narrow.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy
Secured

Taxes deemed secured must be paid in a Chapter 13 proceeding to the extent of the security. Interest is paid at the IRS rate. Using Chapter 13 to pay secured taxes can be advisable in many scenarios. If a taxpayer is unable to afford the payment required to pay the tax in full during the pendency of the case, then there may be other options, depending on the taxpayer’s unique circumstances.

Priority

Taxes that are Priority must be paid in full in Chapter 13, regardless of the amount. Depending on the circumstances, the Priority debt may just be too large to pay back during the pendency of Chapter 13. Therefore, other options may need to be considered. If the amount is affordable, Chapter 13 can be a great way to pay Priority taxes.

Unsecured (non-priority)

Taxes that are considered unsecured, non-priority will receive the same treatment as any other unsecured, non-priority debt (e.g. credit card, medical bill.) If they are in the dischargeable category, they will be eligible for discharge at the end of the case. If the Chapter 13 case pays some unsecured debt back, then the taxes will receive a pro-rata share.

If bankruptcy won’t help your tax situation, you may need to consider non-bankruptcy options.

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