It's usually relatively simple to determine whether a debt is a consumer or non-consumer debt for the purposes of the Chapter 7 means test. If most of your obligations are business debts, your income won't need to meet the means test qualification requirements. However, you should remember that when an individual files a business bankruptcy, the bankruptcy trustee and court will review these debts carefully and might require proof.
Read on to determine if a debt is consumer or business in nature.
Is it a Business or Consumer Debt?
Determining the debt category can be the subject of disputes in bankruptcy cases. In general, the following definitions apply:
- Business debt is anything that doesn't qualify as consumer debt, and it's often referred to as non-consumer debt.
- Consumer debt is incurred by an individual primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. Anything else is non-consumer debt.
A good rule of thumb is to look at what you used the money for rather than where you got it or the name of the transaction type. For instance:
- If you used the money to pay a personal, family, or household expense or to purchase personal, family, or household goods, it's probably a consumer debt.
- If you used it to pay something else, it is likely a non-consumer debt and, therefore, a business debt.
You'll use the date the debt was incurred to determine its status. If you incurred the debt for a consumer purchase (such as a personal computer) and later used the property in your business, the debt will be a consumer debt.
Why the Business and Consumer Debt Distinction Matters
The means test, the lengthy financial calculation which decides whether or not you are eligible to receive a Chapter 7 discharge (the order that wipes out qualifying debt) doesn't apply if your debts aren't mainly consumer debts. If more than half of your debts are non-consumer business debts, you can file for Chapter 7—and receive a discharge—without taking or passing the means test.
What Does "Primarily" Consumer Debt Mean?
The bankruptcy law states that the means test applies to anyone who has primarily consumer debt. The courts have interpreted this to mean half or more. If at least half of your debt is consumer debt, you must take the means test.
- Dollar amount standard. Most courts find that if greater than half of the dollar amount of your debt is non-consumer or business, the means test doesn't apply.
- Number of debts. A few courts require that the business debt also be greater than half of your debts in number.
If more than half of your debt in dollars is business debt but it is less than half of your debts in number, you should check with an experienced bankruptcy attorney in your area to see whether you'll be required to take the means test.
Examples of Business and Consumer Debt
- Taxes. Taxes, including income taxes, are generally not consumer debts. Most courts consider taxes to be non-consumer debt. Although this sounds odd, it's because no one voluntarily "incurs" tax debt for personal, family, or household purposes.
- Student loans. Some courts count these as consumers, and some do not. You need to check with an experienced bankruptcy attorney in your area. Gathering documentation to show what the student loan was used to pay for (tuition and books, or living expenses and food) may be helpful.
- Credit card debt. If you were careful to use only particular cards for business expenses, this determination would be easier, but you will likely need to go through your statements to determine whether the individual purchases were for consumer or non-consumer purposes at the time the purchase was made. Purchases of business inventory and equipment, or cash advances deposited into the business to pay business expenses are not consumer debt. Daily lunches and gas for your daily commute are probably consumer debt.
- Mortgages. Mortgages on your house are consumer debt. Mortgages on your business property are business debt. A mortgage on a property you resided in when you mortgaged it, which is now a rental property, remains a consumer debt. A mortgage on property you purchased as an investment property to rent out is a business debt.
- Car loans. If you purchased a truck to use only in your construction business, this is a business debt. If you simply use your family car to make business sales calls, it is a consumer debt.
- Domestic support obligations. Most courts consider these to be consumer debts.
- Personal Guarantees. Personal guarantees of business debts are not consumer. They remain business debts.
- Legal fees. If incurred for family or household purposes such as divorce, child custody, and support obligations, they will most likely be considered consumer debt. If they are incurred in connection with business disputes, they are non-consumer or business debt.
Providing Documentation
Whether debts are consumer or business debts is often looked at closely in a bankruptcy proceeding. You'll need to have supporting documentation for anything you are classifying as business or non-consumer debt. It will be your burden to show the purpose of the debt at the time you incurred it.