In re Murchek, No. 11-02604, 2012 WL 2920064, at *9–*10 (Bankr. N.D. Iowa July 17, 2012) (Collins)

Future tax refunds are included in projected disposable income except in unusual cases; debtor has burden to prove both that this is unusual case and that future tax refunds are not known or virtually certain once trustee shows that there have been tax refunds in the past. Trustee objected to plan language that would exclude from projected disposable income tax refunds that were not known or virtually certain at confirmation. “An ‘always’ or ‘never’ label about whether tax refunds should be included as projected disposable income is no longer appropriate. . . . [A]fter Trustee . . . shows debtor has previously received tax refunds under similar circumstances—debtor must show unusual circumstances and then (and only then) the question becomes whether a refund or no refund is ‘known or virtually certain to occur.’ . . . Trustee’s initial burden is satisfied by showing that Debtor previously received tax refunds under similar income circumstances . . . . Debtor must satisfy the ultimate burden by showing ‘that despite the receipt of refunds in prior years’ exceptional circumstances that will occur during the Plan make it known or virtually certain that a refund will or will not be received.”

No Author Biography has been linked to this Article.

Related Articles

Copy of Hildebrand-2016
March 27, 2022
The issuance of a subpoena to a Chapter 7 trustee by a third party was subject to the Barton Doctrine and could not be permitted without the parties seeking bankruptcy court consent. (Clarkson) In re Eagan Avenatti, LLP, 2022 WL 630332 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. March 3, 2022) Case Summary Eagan Avenatti, LLP, was the California law firm of the somewhat...
Members
June 16, 2019
By Lawrence R. Ahern III, Brown & Ahern (Nashville, TN) Introduction – The Taggart Ruling Last year, the Ninth Circuit in In re Taggart1 ruled that an act in violation of the discharge injunction did not empower a court to find a creditor in contempt, if the creditor believed in good faith that the discharge injunction did not apply—even if...
Members
March 8, 2020
By The Honorable William Houston Brown (Retired) Plan did not properly address 910 creditor’s liens. Finding that the plan did not satisfy one of the three options for addressing a secured claim under § 1325(a)(5), specifically failing to provide for the 910 creditor’s retention of lien, the Panel observed that in response to the creditor’s objection to confirmation, the debtors...
Members
Copy of Hildebrand-2016
August 25, 2024
Once a Chapter 13 case is completed and the debtor receives a discharge, the trustee cannot seek to reopen the case for the purpose of grabbing an undisclosed, prepetition asset and then converting the case to a Chapter 7 so it could be administered.
Members
August 11, 2019
Summertime activities often affect the tax returns people file the following year. Here are some things taxpayers do during the summer along with tips they should consider now: Getting married. Newlyweds should report any name change to the Social Security Administration. They should also report an address change to the United States Postal Service, their employers, and the IRS. This...
June 28, 2020
By Anthony J. Gomez, CPA, former extern to the Honorable John P. Gustafson, Northern District of Ohio at Toledo Click here for Part 1 Click here for Part 2 IV. The Hanging Paragraph’s effect on Interest Rates When the hanging paragraph is applicable, creditors are entitled to the full value of their secured claims as . . . It looks...
Members
ahern_larry_regular
September 18, 2022
Introduction In In re Village Apothecary, Inc.,1 the Sixth Circuit last month reduced an attorney's fees by half, where the professional's services were not "successful." The results obtained (or, actually, the lack of results) justified cutting the fees of attorneys for a Chapter 7 trustee by 50%. Why It Matters to Chapter 13 People This analysis of the implications of...
Members
September 29, 2019
By Katherine B. Brewer, Esq. (Westerville, OH) One of the first things we focus on in law school (other than the Rule Against Perpetuities, which always brings back fond memories), is that our clients come first. We learn the complexities of the law, memorize rule statements, and read thousands of pages of case law in order to learn how best...
Members
moran_cathy
August 27, 2023
The bankruptcy means test, designed to keep people out of bankruptcy, has a fatal weakness. . . . it’s health care.
Members
October 20, 2019
By Herb Beskin, Chapter 13 Trustee and Edward M. Wayland, Esq. (Charlottesville, VA) Trustees are not privy to the struggles of Debtors as they emerge from Chapter 13 and work to re-establish (establish?) their credit worthiness. A crucial factor in this process is the Debtor’s credit report. In this article, we discuss the Fair Credit Reporting Act (“FCRA”), the rules...
Members

Looking to Become a Member?

ConsiderChapter13.org offers a forum to advance continuing education of consumer bankruptcy via access to insightful articles, informative webinars, and the latest industry news. Join now to benefit from expert resources and stay informed.

Webinars

These informative sessions are led by industry experts and cover a range of consumer bankruptcy topics.

Member Articles

Written by industry experts, these articles provide in-depth analysis and practical guidance on consumer bankruptcy topics.

Industry News

The Academy is the go-to source for the latest news and analysis in the Chapter 13 bankruptcy industry.

To get started, please let us know which of these best fits your current position: