Marshall v. Blake

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Blake is a below‐median income debtor who filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. In her proposed bankruptcy plan, Blake sought to retain her annual earned income tax credit and a portion of her tax over‐withholdings. Trustee Marshall objected to confirmation of Blake’s plan, arguing that Blake is required to turn over her entire tax refund for use as additional plan payments. The bankruptcy court confirmed the plan over Marshall’s objection, reasoning that tax credits are income under the Bankruptcy Code that must be taken into account when calculating the debtor’s projected disposable income for plan payments but that Blake could retain her tax refund if she prorated it as monthly income and offset it with reasonably necessary expenses to be incurred throughout the year. The Seventh Circuit affirmed. Tax credits are income under the Bankruptcy Code; below‐median income debtors may prorate their annual income tax refund and associated expenses. By confirming Blake’s plan, the bankruptcy court implicitly found, based on the totality of the circumstances, that her plan was proposed in good faith. The court’s approach did not make the plan less feasible and promotes the purposes of Chapter 13. View "Marshall v. Blake" on Justia Law