Current Bankruptcy Filing Fees (2026)
Bankruptcy filing fees are set by the Judicial Conference of the United States and are uniform across all 94 federal bankruptcy courts. Whether you file in New York, Kansas, or California, the fee is the same. These fees are paid directly to the bankruptcy court at the time you file your petition -- they do not go to your attorney, the trustee, or any creditor.
| Chapter | Filing Fee | Fee Waiver Available? | Installment Payments? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7 (Liquidation) | $338 | Yes -- Form 103B | Yes -- up to 4 payments |
| Chapter 13 (Repayment Plan) | $313 | No | Yes -- up to 4 payments |
| Chapter 11 (Reorganization) | $1,738 | No | No |
| Chapter 12 (Family Farmer/Fisher) | $278 | No | Yes -- up to 4 payments |
The filing fee is separate from the administrative fee and trustee surcharge, which are now bundled into the amounts shown above. Before 2012, courts charged these as separate line items, but they are now combined into a single payment.
Key point: Chapter 7 is the only chapter where the filing fee can be completely waived. If you are filing Chapter 13, 11, or 12, you must pay the full filing fee -- though Chapter 13 and Chapter 12 filers can spread it across up to four installments over 120 days.
Chapter 7 Filing Fee: $338
The Chapter 7 filing fee of $338 is the most common bankruptcy filing fee because Chapter 7 accounts for approximately 60-65% of all consumer bankruptcy filings nationwide. This fee covers the court's costs for processing your petition, scheduling the 341 meeting of creditors, and administering the case through discharge.
What the $338 Covers
The filing fee is a one-time payment that covers the entire lifecycle of a standard Chapter 7 case. Once paid, there are no additional court fees unless you need to file specific motions (which may carry their own fees) or reopen the case after it has been closed. The $338 breaks down historically into:
- $245 -- Base filing fee (goes to the court)
- $78 -- Administrative fee (covers court administration costs)
- $15 -- Trustee surcharge (goes to the United States Trustee Program)
These three components are collected as a single $338 payment. You do not need to write separate checks or make separate payments.
Three Ways to Pay the Chapter 7 Filing Fee
- Pay in full at filing. The simplest option. You pay $338 when you file your petition. Most courts accept money orders, cashier's checks, and (if filing electronically through an attorney) credit card or electronic payment.
- Pay in installments (Form 103A). If you cannot afford the full amount at filing, you can request to pay in up to 4 installments over 120 days. You must file Form 103A -- Application to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments -- with your petition. The court typically approves the request unless there is reason to believe you can pay in full. You cannot pay any attorney fees until the filing fee is fully paid.
- Request a full fee waiver (Form 103B). If your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, you can ask the court to waive the filing fee entirely by filing Form 103B. This is only available for Chapter 7. See the complete fee waiver guide for details.
Important rule: If you file Form 103A to pay in installments, you are prohibited from paying any fees to an attorney, bankruptcy petition preparer, or anyone else until the filing fee is paid in full. 28 U.S.C. section 1930(a) and Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1006(b)(3) impose this restriction.
Chapter 13 Filing Fee: $313
The Chapter 13 filing fee is $313 -- $25 less than Chapter 7. This might seem counterintuitive since Chapter 13 cases are more complex and last 3-5 years, but the fee structure reflects the historical breakdown of the base fee and administrative surcharges rather than case complexity.
Key Differences from Chapter 7
- No fee waiver available. Unlike Chapter 7, Chapter 13 filers cannot request a complete waiver of the filing fee. The reasoning is that Chapter 13 involves a repayment plan, so the debtor is expected to have some income available.
- Installment payments are available. You can still file Form 103A to pay the $313 in up to 4 installments over 120 days.
- Trustee fees are separate. The $313 filing fee is different from the Chapter 13 trustee's fee, which is typically 7-10% of all plan payments and is paid throughout the life of the plan. The trustee fee is not a court fee -- it compensates the standing trustee for administering your case.
Many Chapter 13 attorneys include the filing fee in their retainer or pay it on your behalf and then recover it through the plan. Ask your attorney how they handle the filing fee before signing a retainer agreement.
Chapter 11 Filing Fee: $1,738
Chapter 11 is primarily used by businesses but is also available to individuals with debts exceeding the Chapter 13 limits. The $1,738 filing fee reflects the significantly greater administrative burden these cases place on the court system.
Additional Chapter 11 Costs
Beyond the filing fee, Chapter 11 debtors face quarterly fees paid to the U.S. Trustee based on disbursements made during the case:
| Quarterly Disbursements | Quarterly Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 -- $14,999 | $325 |
| $15,000 -- $74,999 | $650 |
| $75,000 -- $149,999 | $975 |
| $150,000 -- $224,999 | $1,625 |
| $225,000 -- $299,999 | $1,950 |
| $300,000 -- $999,999 | $4,875 |
| $1,000,000 -- $1,999,999 | $6,500 |
| $2,000,000 -- $2,999,999 | $9,750 |
| $3,000,000 -- $4,999,999 | $10,400 |
| $5,000,000+ | $13,000 |
Chapter 11 Sub V (small business reorganization under the Small Business Reorganization Act of 2019) uses the same $1,738 filing fee but has a simplified process with lower overall administrative costs. The Sub V trustee is appointed by the court and compensated differently than in a traditional Chapter 11.
No fee waivers or installments for Chapter 11. The full $1,738 must be paid at the time of filing. There is no installment option and no waiver provision. Given that Chapter 11 is designed for debtors with significant financial activity, the Judicial Conference does not provide a reduced-fee pathway.
Fee Waiver: Who Qualifies (150% Poverty Guidelines)
The Chapter 7 fee waiver under Form 103B is available only to filers whose household income falls below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. The poverty guidelines are updated annually by the Department of Health and Human Services. Here are the 2026 thresholds (estimated based on 2025 figures plus standard annual adjustment):
| Household Size | 100% Poverty Level | 150% (Fee Waiver Threshold) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,060 | $22,590 |
| 2 persons | $20,440 | $30,660 |
| 3 persons | $25,820 | $38,730 |
| 4 persons | $31,200 | $46,800 |
| 5 persons | $36,580 | $54,870 |
| 6 persons | $41,960 | $62,940 |
| 7 persons | $47,340 | $71,010 |
| 8 persons | $52,720 | $79,080 |
| Each additional | +$5,380 | +$8,070 |
Alaska and Hawaii have higher poverty guidelines. If you live in either state, the thresholds are approximately 25% (Alaska) or 15% (Hawaii) higher than the numbers shown above.
How to Apply for a Fee Waiver
- Download Form 103B from uscourts.gov or your local court's website.
- Complete the form. You will need to list your income from all sources, your expenses, any assets you own, and the size of your household.
- File with your petition. Form 103B must be filed at the same time as your bankruptcy petition (or shortly after, if the court permits).
- The court reviews your application. A judge will determine whether you qualify. The court may approve the waiver, deny it, or require you to pay in installments instead.
If the court denies your fee waiver request, you will be ordered to pay the $338 filing fee -- typically in installments. You will not be penalized for making the request.
Fee Installment Plans (Form 103A)
If you cannot afford to pay the filing fee in full at the time of filing but do not qualify for a fee waiver (or are filing Chapter 13 or Chapter 12 where waivers are not available), you can request to pay in installments.
How Installment Plans Work
- File Form 103A with your bankruptcy petition.
- The court typically approves installment plans unless there is a specific reason to deny the request.
- You will pay the filing fee in up to 4 installments over 120 days (about 4 months).
- The first installment is typically due within 14 days of filing.
- The remaining installments are spaced at roughly 30-day intervals.
- You cannot pay your attorney, petition preparer, or any other person while you owe installment payments on the filing fee. This is a strict rule under the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.
Failure to pay: If you miss an installment payment, the court may dismiss your bankruptcy case. If your case is dismissed for failure to pay the filing fee, you lose the protection of the automatic stay and your creditors can resume collection activity. Take installment deadlines seriously.
Installment Availability by Chapter
| Chapter | Fee | Installments? | Number of Payments | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7 | $338 | Yes | Up to 4 | 120 days |
| Chapter 13 | $313 | Yes | Up to 4 | 120 days |
| Chapter 12 | $278 | Yes | Up to 4 | 120 days |
| Chapter 11 | $1,738 | No | N/A | Due at filing |
Other Court Fees You Might Encounter
While the filing fee is the primary court cost, there are additional fees that may apply depending on your case:
| Action | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Converting from Ch.7 to Ch.13 | $0 | No additional fee |
| Converting from Ch.13 to Ch.7 | $25 | Difference in filing fees |
| Reopening a closed case | $260 | Required to amend schedules or address issues after closure |
| Filing an adversary proceeding | $350 | Separate lawsuit within the bankruptcy case |
| Motion to reopen | $0 | No fee for the motion itself, but the reopening fee applies |
| Amending schedules | $32 | Per amendment filed |
| Filing a proof of claim (late) | $0 | No fee for creditors |
These fees are in addition to the original filing fee and cannot be waived or paid in installments through Form 103A. If you need to reopen a case, the $260 reopening fee must be paid in full.
How the Filing Fee Compares to Total Cost
The filing fee is actually a small portion of the total cost of bankruptcy. For most people, attorney fees represent the largest expense. Here is how the filing fee fits into the bigger picture:
| Cost Component | Chapter 7 | Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Filing fee | $338 (19-24%) | $313 (6-9%) |
| Attorney fees | $1,000-$2,500 (60-72%) | $3,000-$5,000 (58-89%) |
| Credit counseling (2 courses) | $30-$100 (2-7%) | $30-$100 (1-3%) |
| Total direct costs | $1,368-$2,938 | $3,343-$5,413 |
For Chapter 7, the filing fee represents roughly one-fifth to one-quarter of the total cost. For Chapter 13, it is less than 10% because attorney fees are so much higher. This is why the fee waiver, while helpful, does not eliminate the financial barrier to filing -- the attorney fee is the bigger obstacle for most people.
For a complete breakdown of all costs, see the full cost comparison on our homepage. For ways to reduce or eliminate the cost entirely, see our guides on fee waivers and free filing options.
Filing Fee History
Bankruptcy filing fees have increased over time. Here is a brief history of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filing fees (combined filing fee + administrative fee + trustee surcharge):
| Year | Chapter 7 | Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | $299 | $274 |
| 2012 | $306 | $281 |
| 2014 | $335 | $310 |
| 2020 | $338 | $313 |
| 2026 (current) | $338 | $313 |
Filing fees have remained stable since 2020. The Judicial Conference periodically reviews and adjusts these fees, but increases are infrequent -- typically every 4-8 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
About This Data
Filing fees listed on this page are based on the current fee schedule published by the Judicial Conference of the United States. Poverty guidelines are from the Department of Health and Human Services (2025-2026 figures). Quarterly U.S. Trustee fees are from 28 U.S.C. section 1930(a)(6). This is an educational resource, not legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for your specific situation.
Last updated: March 2026.
Cited in Federal Rules Suggestion 26-BK-3