Just got back from the lawyer's office and I hope to file this week. I thought I was meeting with the lawyer and instead met with a gentleman I believe is a paralegal. He was elderly, smiled a lot, was very friendly and was easily confused. He said he would gather the preliminary information and my next appointment would be with the lawyer.
When he was calculating my income and expenses, when it came time to figure out my ytd tax debt, he pulled out my 2008 tax return and started entering numbers from that return to figure my 2009 tax rate. When he was finished he said, "Nope. You're over the median and you don't pass the means test." And I said to him, "Why are you using my 2009 income and my 2008 taxes??? I barely made any money in 2008 (hence the bk), and paid almost no taxes! I am making money this year and am going to be paying some real taxes!!"
So then he asked, "Ok. So what do you think your tax rate is?" I said, "Usually, my all-inclusive tax rate-- Fed, State, city, SE-- everything combined is at least 30% of my net." So then he took my net income for the past 6 months, figured out what 30% was, deducted that amount as an expense, and said, "Ok, you're under the median income and are negative about $200 a month on the means test. You're good for Ch7". With that, he told me how much money to bring with me to the next meeting, gave me a few more documents to get together, and told me to make an appointment to come back and file.
I had no opportunity to talk to the lawyer, but I am real uncomfortable with this guy's m.o. Hearing him say I am good to go for Ch7 wasn't particularly reassuring.
Thoughts anyone??
When he was calculating my income and expenses, when it came time to figure out my ytd tax debt, he pulled out my 2008 tax return and started entering numbers from that return to figure my 2009 tax rate. When he was finished he said, "Nope. You're over the median and you don't pass the means test." And I said to him, "Why are you using my 2009 income and my 2008 taxes??? I barely made any money in 2008 (hence the bk), and paid almost no taxes! I am making money this year and am going to be paying some real taxes!!"
So then he asked, "Ok. So what do you think your tax rate is?" I said, "Usually, my all-inclusive tax rate-- Fed, State, city, SE-- everything combined is at least 30% of my net." So then he took my net income for the past 6 months, figured out what 30% was, deducted that amount as an expense, and said, "Ok, you're under the median income and are negative about $200 a month on the means test. You're good for Ch7". With that, he told me how much money to bring with me to the next meeting, gave me a few more documents to get together, and told me to make an appointment to come back and file.
I had no opportunity to talk to the lawyer, but I am real uncomfortable with this guy's m.o. Hearing him say I am good to go for Ch7 wasn't particularly reassuring.
Thoughts anyone??
Comment