How do they know?

[sassiebaz]

How does the trustee know if you get a new job or get overtime or a raise? I'm just wondering. Other than seeing the information on the next years tax return.....

[lrprn]

How does the trustee know if you get a new job or get overtime or a raise? I'm just wondering. Other than seeing the information on the next years tax return.....

Seeing the annual tax returns is the typical way most Ch 13 trustees keep track of what is happening with their filers' income. How the trustee reacts to changes varies a great deal across the country.

Also keep in mind that your trustee can ask for copies of your current financial records any time during your 13. However, unless there is some suspicion of fraud, 99% of the time this doesn't happen.

[newbie2]

Ask your attorney about what is expected of you during the plan. Our attorney made it very clear during our meeting, as well as in yearly letters, that all changes in income (either increase or decrease) must be revealed. It is also standard in our district to send the trustee our income tax returns.

In year 2 of our plan my husband got a raise. I didn't think it was significant enough that a trustee would want to raise our plan payments, but I wasn't going to chance being quiet about it. I wrote a letter to our attorney and mailed it CCR along with a copy of the first paycheck that reflected the raise. Nothing came about from it (no raise in our plan payments) but if the trustee ever comes around saying "You made more money, we want it" I have proof that I informed our attorney.

[mkstlowe]

So is sending in your tax return usually required? Or is it usually driven by county/state? Way my attorney talks, I won't have to do this or not been mention

[newbie2]

So is sending in your tax return usually required? Or is it usually driven by county/state? Way my attorney talks, I won't have to do this or not been mention

It's district specific it seems. Ours does, yours may not. Your attorney would be the best source to ask.

[BKchapter13]

we have to send a copy of our tax refund to the trustee and we have it electronically sent to her. If we are slightly slow on sending it she sends out a reminder to send it in asap. This is the state of michigan..