3 years of Taxes....and questionable income!

[missy2]

I met with a lawyer yesterday and I think that this is something that I want to do but I have some questions. I asked the lawyer most of the questions but these came to me after I left the office.

I have this PAST YEARS tax info but I miss placed 2003 and 2002, do I need to have the w-2's to file? If not how can I get a hold of my tax info? Do I contact the IRS and State that I filed in?

Next question, in 2002 my income was MINISCULE, around $600. I had huge debt but I managed to pay on time for the most part due to the help of friends, family and credit cards! Will my earned income be in question - like where I got the money to pay? My 2003 income is also very small...this past year was the first year that my income was decent but I still couldn't afford any of my bills.

Is there anyway that the stuff that I file on WON'T BE discharged? I'm going to file on my credit cards and a secured bank loan (where I'll probably lose my car).

I have three student loans. I remember when I signed them they stated that they were PRIVATE loans that were secured and they MUST be paid back even if I file bankruptcy. These loans are not government / federal backed in anyway. They are PRIVATE student loans, is there a chance that I could get them discharged??

Thanks for any advice - I appreciate it...!

[beagal]

I have this PAST YEARS tax info but I miss placed 2003 and 2002, do I need to have the w-2's to file? If not how can I get a hold of my tax info? Do I contact the IRS and State that I filed in?

To be on the safe side, should a creditor file an adversary proceeding against you and request income tax information through discovery demands, you can obtain them by filling out this:

http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf

Enclose it in a letter to the IRS. The IRS address you should write to is on that authorization.

You should not need State Income Tax information. Bankruptcy is federal, not state.

Next question, in 2002 my income was MINISCULE, around $600. I had huge debt but I managed to pay on time for the most part due to the help of friends, family and credit cards! Will my earned income be in question - like where I got the money to pay? My 2003 income is also very small...this past year was the first year that my income was decent but I still couldn't afford any of my bills.

I would discuss this matter with your attorney. The Court will need income tax information for the past two (2) years. That is 2003 and 2004. You shouldn't need to provide information from 2002 unless there is an adversary proceeding, in which a creditor makes a discovery demand for it.

[QUOTE]Is there anyway that the stuff that I file on WON'T BE discharged? I'm going to file on my credit cards and a secured bank loan (where I'll probably lose my car).[QUOTE]

Credit card debt and bank loan debt is dischargeable.

I have three student loans. I remember when I signed them they stated that they were PRIVATE loans that were secured and they MUST be paid back even if I file bankruptcy. These loans are not government / federal backed in anyway. They are PRIVATE student loans, is there a chance that I could get them discharged??

Thanks for any advice - I appreciate it...!

It's difficult to determine. Most private student loans are in some way connected to the government and non-dischargeable.