U. S. Bankruptcy
Administrator News
CHANGE OF POLICY
- CELL PHONE EXPENSES
Based on the IRS standard
posted below and the new Means Test Forms (Form B22A -
Ch. 7 and Form B22C - Ch. 13) regular cell phone expenses
are now included as part of the Housing and Utilities
expense on Line 20A and 25A, respectively. Basic cell
phone expenses will no longer be allowed as an additional
expense on Line 32 of Form B22A - Ch. 7 or Line 37 on
Form B22C - Ch. 13 as "Other Necessary Expenses:
telecommunication services."
Local Standards:
Housing and Utilities
The housing and utilities
standards are derived from Census and BLS data, and are
provided by stat down to the county level. The standard
for a particular county and family size includes both housing
and utilities allowed for a taxpayer's primary place of
residence.
Housing and Utilities standards
include mortgage or rent, property taxes, interest, insurance,
maintenance, repairs, gas, electric, water, heating oil,
garbage collection, telephone and cell phone. The tables
include five categories for one, two, three, four, and five
or more persons in a household.
INCREASE
IN CHAPTER 11 QUARTERLY FEES
The
Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized
an increase in the assessment of quarterly fees in all chapter
11 cases. The increased fees became effective for the quarter
beginning January 1, 2008. The quarterly fee will be calculated
on a graduated scale based on the total sum of the disbursements
made during a quarter.
Click here to see chart with new fee.
2009
CHART OF 150% OF THE POVERTY GUIDELINES
The U. S. Department of Health
and Human Services issues poverty guidelines annually, and
the Bankruptcy Judges Division prepares the chart setting
forth 150% of the poverty guidelines for the purpose of
determining a Chapter 7 debtor's eligibility for a filing
fee waiver, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1930 (f)(l). Click
Here to view chart.
