11 U.S.C. § 1322 — Contents of plan

Page 314 TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY § 1321 1 See Adjustment of Dollar Amounts notes below. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective 180 days after Apr. 20, 2005, and not applicable with respect to cases commenced under this title before such effective date, except as otherwise provided, see section 1501 of Pub. L. 109–8, set out as an Effective Date of 2005 Amendment note under section 101 of this title. SUBCHAPTER II—THE PLAN § 1321. Filing of plan The debtor shall file a plan. (Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2648.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES SENATE REPORT NO. 95–989 Chapter 13 contemplates the filing of a plan only by the debtor. § 1322. Contents of plan (a) The plan— (1) shall provide for the submission of all or such portion of future earnings or other future income of the debtor to the supervision and control of the trustee as is necessary for the execution of the plan; (2) shall provide for the full payment, in de- ferred cash payments, of all claims entitled to priority under section 507 of this title, unless the holder of a particular claim agrees to a different treatment of such claim; (3) if the plan classifies claims, shall provide the same treatment for each claim within a particular class; and (4) notwithstanding any other provision of this section, may provide for less than full payment of all amounts owed for a claim enti- tled to priority under section 507(a)(1)(B) only if the plan provides that all of the debtor’s projected disposable income for a 5-year period beginning on the date that the first payment is due under the plan will be applied to make payments under the plan. (b) Subject to subsections (a) and (c) of this section, the plan may— (1) designate a class or classes of unsecured claims, as provided in section 1122 of this title, but may not discriminate unfairly against any class so designated; however, such plan may treat claims for a consumer debt of the debtor if an individual is liable on such consumer debt with the debtor differently than other un- secured claims; (2) modify the rights of holders of secured claims, other than a claim secured only by a security interest in real property that is the debtor’s principal residence, or of holders of unsecured claims, or leave unaffected the rights of holders of any class of claims; (3) provide for the curing or waiving of any default; (4) provide for payments on any unsecured claim to be made concurrently with payments on any secured claim or any other unsecured claim; (5) notwithstanding paragraph (2) of this subsection, provide for the curing of any de- fault within a reasonable time and mainte- nance of payments while the case is pending on any unsecured claim or secured claim on which the last payment is due after the date on which the final payment under the plan is due; (6) provide for the payment of all or any part of any claim allowed under section 1305 of this title; (7) subject to section 365 of this title, provide for the assumption, rejection, or assignment of any executory contract or unexpired lease of the debtor not previously rejected under such section; (8) provide for the payment of all or part of a claim against the debtor from property of the estate or property of the debtor; (9) provide for the vesting of property of the estate, on confirmation of the plan or at a later time, in the debtor or in any other enti- ty; (10) provide for the payment of interest ac- cruing after the date of the filing of the peti- tion on unsecured claims that are non- dischargeable under section 1328(a), except that such interest may be paid only to the ex- tent that the debtor has disposable income available to pay such interest after making provision for full payment of all allowed claims; and (11) include any other appropriate provision not inconsistent with this title. (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b)(2) and ap- plicable nonbankruptcy law— (1) a default with respect to, or that gave rise to, a lien on the debtor’s principal resi- dence may be cured under paragraph (3) or (5) of subsection (b) until such residence is sold at a foreclosure sale that is conducted in accord- ance with applicable nonbankruptcy law; and (2) in a case in which the last payment on the original payment schedule for a claim se- cured only by a security interest in real prop- erty that is the debtor’s principal residence is due before the date on which the final pay- ment under the plan is due, the plan may pro- vide for the payment of the claim as modified pursuant to section 1325(a)(5) of this title. (d)(1) If the current monthly income of the debtor and the debtor’s spouse combined, when multiplied by 12, is not less than— (A) in the case of a debtor in a household of 1 person, the median family income of the ap- plicable State for 1 earner; (B) in the case of a debtor in a household of 2, 3, or 4 individuals, the highest median fam- ily income of the applicable State for a family of the same number or fewer individuals; or (C) in the case of a debtor in a household ex- ceeding 4 individuals, the highest median fam- ily income of the applicable State for a family of 4 or fewer individuals, plus $525 1 per month for each individual in excess of 4, the plan may not provide for payments over a period that is longer than 5 years. (2) If the current monthly income of the debt- or and the debtor’s spouse combined, when mul- tiplied by 12, is less than— Page 315 TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY § 1322 (A) in the case of a debtor in a household of 1 person, the median family income of the ap- plicable State for 1 earner; (B) in the case of a debtor in a household of 2, 3, or 4 individuals, the highest median fam- ily income of the applicable State for a family of the same number or fewer individuals; or (C) in the case of a debtor in a household ex- ceeding 4 individuals, the highest median fam- ily income of the applicable State for a family of 4 or fewer individuals, plus $525 1 per month for each individual in excess of 4, the plan may not provide for payments over a period that is longer than 3 years, unless the court, for cause, approves a longer period, but the court may not approve a period that is longer than 5 years. (e) Notwithstanding subsection (b)(2) of this section and sections 506(b) and 1325(a)(5) of this title, if it is proposed in a plan to cure a default, the amount necessary to cure the default, shall be determined in accordance with the under- lying agreement and applicable nonbankruptcy law. (f) A plan may not materially alter the terms of a loan described in section 362(b)(19) and any amounts required to repay such loan shall not constitute ‘‘disposable income’’ under section 1325. (Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2648; Pub. L. 98–353, title III, §§ 316, 528, July 10, 1984, 98 Stat. 356, 389; Pub. L. 103–394, title III, §§ 301, 305(c), Oct. 22, 1994, 108 Stat. 4131, 4134; Pub. L. 109–8, title II, §§ 213(8), (9), 224(d), title III, § 318(1), Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 53, 65, 93; Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(43), Dec. 22, 2010, 124 Stat. 3562.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES LEGISLATIVE STATEMENTS Section 1322(b)(2) of the House amendment represents a compromise agreement between similar provisions in the House bill and Senate amendment. Under the House amendment, the plan may modify the rights of holders of secured claims other than a claim secured by a secu- rity interest in real property that is the debtor’s prin- cipal residence. It is intended that a claim secured by the debtor’s principal residence may be treated with under section 1322(b)(5) of the House amendment. Section 1322(c) adopts a 5-year period derived from the House bill in preference to a 4-year period con- tained in the Senate amendment. A conforming change is made in section 1329(c) adopting the provision in the House bill in preference to a comparable provision in the Senate amendment. Tax payments in wage earner plans: The House bill provided that a wage earner plan had to provide that all priority claims would be paid in full. The Senate amendment contained a special rule in section 1325(c) requiring that Federal tax claims must be paid in cash, but that such tax claims can be paid in deferred cash installments under the general rules applicable to the payment of debts in a wage earner plan, unless the In- ternal Revenue Service negotiates with the debtor for some different medium or time for payment of the tax liability. The House bill adopts the substance of the Senate amendment rule under section 1322(a)(2) of the House amendment. A wage earner plan must provide for full payment in deferred cash payments, of all priority claims, unless the holder of a particular claim agrees with a different treatment of such claim. SENATE REPORT NO. 95–989 Chapter 13 is designed to serve as a flexible vehicle for the repayment of part or all of the allowed claims of the debtor. Section 1322 emphasizes that purpose by fixing a minimum of mandatory plan provisions. Subsection (a) requires that the plan submit what- ever portion of the future income of the debtor is nec- essary to implement the plan to the control of the trustee, mandates payment in full of all section 507 pri- ority claims, and requires identical treatment for all claims of a particular class. Subsection (b) permits a chapter 13 plan to (1) divide unsecured claims not entitled to priority under section 507 into classes in the manner authorized for chapter 11 claims; (2) modify the rights of holders of secured and unsecured claims, except claims wholly secured by real estate mortgages; (3) cure or waive any default; (4) pro- pose payments on unsecured claims concurrently with payments on any secured claim or any other class of unsecured claims; (5) provide for curing any default on any secured or unsecured claim on which the final pay- ment is due after the proposed final payment under the plan; (6) provide for payment of any allowed postpetition claim; (7) assume or reject any previously unrejected executory contract or unexpired lease of the debtor; (8) propose the payment of all or any part of any claim from property of the estate or of the debtor; (9) provide for the vesting of property of the estate; and (10) include any other provision not inconsistent with other provisions of title 11. Subsection (c) limits the payment period under the plan to 3 years, except that a 4–year payment period may be permitted by the court. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2010—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(43)(A), struck out ‘‘shall’’ after ‘‘plan’’ in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(43)(B)–(D), inserted ‘‘shall’’ before ‘‘provide’’. Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–327, § 2(a)(43)(E), struck out ‘‘a plan’’ before ‘‘may provide’’. 2005—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 109–8, § 213(8), added par. (4). Subsec. (b)(10), (11). Pub. L. 109–8, § 213(9), added par. (10) and redesignated former par. (10) as (11). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–8, § 318(1), amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) read as fol- lows: ‘‘The plan may not provide for payments over a period that is longer than three years, unless the court, for cause, approves a longer period, but the court may not approve a period that is longer than five years.’’ Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 109–8, § 224(d), added subsec. (f). 1994—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 103–394, § 301, added sub- sec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–394, § 305(c), added subsec. (e). 1984—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 98–353, § 528(a), inserted a comma after ‘‘payments’’. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 98–353, § 316, inserted ‘‘; however, such plan may treat claims for a consumer debt of the debtor if an individual is liable on such con- sumer debt with the debtor differently than other unse- cured claims’’. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 98–353, § 528(b)(1), inserted ‘‘, or leave unaffected the rights of the holders of any class of claims’’. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 98–353, § 528(b)(2), inserted ‘‘other’’ after ‘‘claim or any’’. Subsec. (b)(7). Pub. L. 98–353, § 528(b)(3), inserted ‘‘sub- ject to section 365 of this title,’’ before ‘‘provide’’, sub- stituted ‘‘, rejection, or assignment’’ for ‘‘or rejec- tion’’, and substituted ‘‘under such section’’ for ‘‘under section 365 of this title’’. Subsec. (b)(8). Pub. L. 98–353, § 528(b)(4), struck out ‘‘any’’ before ‘‘part of a claim’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2005 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 109–8 effective 180 days after Apr. 20, 2005, and not applicable with respect to cases Page 316 TITLE 11—BANKRUPTCY § 1323 commenced under this title before such effective date, except as otherwise provided, see section 1501 of Pub. L. 109–8, set out as a note under section 101 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1994 AMENDMENT Amendment by section 301 of Pub. L. 103–394 effective Oct. 22, 1994, and not applicable with respect to cases commenced under this title before Oct. 22, 1994, and amendment by section 305(c) of Pub. L. 103–394 effective Oct. 22, 1994, and applicable only to agreements entered into after Oct. 22, 1994, see section 702 of Pub. L. 103–394, set out as a note under section 101 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 98–353 effective with respect to cases filed 90 days after July 10, 1984, see section 552(a) of Pub. L. 98–353, set out as a note under section 101 of this title. Court Rules and Judicial Documents ADJUSTMENT OF DOLLAR AMOUNTS The dollar amounts specified in this section were ad- justed by notices of the Judicial Conference of the United States pursuant to section 104 of this title as follows: By notice dated Jan. 31, 2022, 87 F.R. 6625, effective Apr. 1, 2022, in subsec. (d), dollar amount ‘‘750’’ was ad- justed to ‘‘825’’ each time it appeared. See notice of the Judicial Conference of the United States set out as a note under section 104 of this title. By notice dated Feb. 5, 2019, 84 F.R. 3488, effective Apr. 1, 2019, in subsec. (d), dollar amount ‘‘700’’ was ad- justed to ‘‘750’’ each time it appeared. By notice dated Feb. 16, 2016, 81 F.R. 8748, effective Apr. 1, 2016, in subsec. (d), dollar amount ‘‘675’’ was ad- justed to ‘‘700’’ each time it appeared. By notice dated Feb. 12, 2013, 78 F.R. 12089, effective Apr. 1, 2013, in subsec. (d), dollar amount ‘‘625’’ was ad- justed to ‘‘675’’ each time it appeared. By notice dated Feb. 19, 2010, 75 F.R. 8747, effective Apr. 1, 2010, in subsec. (d)(1)(C), (2)(C), dollar amount ‘‘575’’ was adjusted to ‘‘625’’. By notice dated Feb. 7, 2007, 72 F.R. 7082, effective Apr. 1, 2007, in subsec. (d), dollar amount ‘‘525’’ was ad- justed to ‘‘575’’ each time it appeared. § 1323. Modification of plan before confirmation (a) The debtor may modify the plan at any time before confirmation, but may not modify the plan so that the plan as modified fails to meet the requirements of section 1322 of this title. (b) After the debtor files a modification under this section, the plan as modified becomes the plan. (c) Any holder of a secured claim that has ac- cepted or rejected the plan is deemed to have ac- cepted or rejected, as the case may be, the plan as modified, unless the modification provides for a change in the rights of such holder from what such rights were under the plan before modifica- tion, and such holder changes such holder’s pre- vious acceptance or rejection. (Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2649.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES SENATE REPORT NO. 95–989 The debtor is permitted to modify the plan before confirmation without court approval so long as the modified plan, which becomes the plan on filing, com- plies with the requirements of section 1322. The original acceptance or rejection of a plan by the holder of a secured claim remains binding unless the modified plan changes the rights of the holder and the holder withdraws or alters its earlier acceptance or re- jection. § 1324. Confirmation hearing (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) and after notice, the court shall hold a hearing on confirmation of the plan. A party in interest may object to confirmation of the plan. (b) The hearing on confirmation of the plan may be held not earlier than 20 days and not later than 45 days after the date of the meeting of creditors under section 341(a), unless the court determines that it would be in the best in- terests of the creditors and the estate to hold such hearing at an earlier date and there is no objection to such earlier date. (Pub. L. 95–598, Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2649; Pub. L. 98–353, title III, § 529, July 10, 1984, 98 Stat. 389; Pub. L. 99–554, title II, § 283(x), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3118; Pub. L. 109–8, title III, § 317, Apr. 20, 2005, 119 Stat. 92.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES SENATE REPORT NO. 95–989 Any party in interest may object to the confirmation of a plan, as distinguished from merely rejecting a plan. An objection to confirmation is predicated on failure of the plan or the procedures employed prior to confirmation to conform with the requirements of chapter 13. The bankruptcy judge is required to provide notice and an opportunity for hearing any such objec- tion to confirmation. Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2005—Pub. L. 109–8 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), substituted ‘‘Except as provided in sub- section (b) and after’’ for ‘‘After’’, and added subsec. (b). 1986—Pub. L. 99–554 struck out ‘‘the’’ after ‘‘object to’’. 1984—Pub. L. 98–353 struck out ‘‘the’’ before ‘‘con- firmation of the plan’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2005 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 109–8 effective 180 days after Apr. 20, 2005, and not applicable with respect to cases commenced under this title before such effective date, except as otherwise provided, see section 1501 of Pub. L. 109–8, set out as a note under section 101 of this title. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1986 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 99–554 effective 30 days after Oct. 27, 1986, see section 302(a) of Pub. L. 99–554, set out as a note under section 581 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 98–353 effective with respect to cases filed 90 days after July 10, 1984, see section 552(a) of Pub. L. 98–353, set out as a note under section 101 of this title. § 1325. Confirmation of plan (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), the court shall confirm a plan if— (1) The plan complies with the provisions of this chapter and with the other applicable pro- visions of this title; (2) any fee, charge, or amount required under chapter 123 of title 28, or by the plan, to be paid before confirmation, has been paid;