The means test in Texas: median income
The Texas median income table and the first step of the means test.
Checked against official sources: October 25, 2026.
Short answer
The U.S. Trustee Program publishes these medians for Texas. Income below the median for your household size passes the first step.
- 1 person
- $66,837
- 2 people
- $86,714
- 3 people
- $99,273
- 4 people
- $117,962
- Each extra person
- +$11,100
- Medians apply to cases filed on or after
- April 1, 2026
Texas median income check
Official Form 122A-1 compares your household's yearly income with the median income in Texas. Here are the official medians:
- 1 person$66,837
- 2 people$86,714
- 3 people$99,273
- 4 people$117,962
- Each extra person+$11,100
Applies to cases filed on or after April 1, 2026. 1 = one earner; 2, 3, 4 = people in the household; add = amount added for each person over 4
Texas bankruptcy courts and divisions
You file in the federal district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. Texas has four districts; each court lists the counties for each division: Northern https://www.txnb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations, Eastern https://www.txeb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations, Southern https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/address-hours-phone-information (choose your division), Western: each division page on https://www.txwb.uscourts.gov/ (for example https://www.txwb.uscourts.gov/austin-division).
Law: 28 U.S.C. 1408
Divisions: Dallas, Fort Worth, Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo, Wichita Falls
Clerk's phone: (214) 753-2000 (Dallas); (817) 333-6000 (Fort Worth); (806) 472-5000 (Lubbock, also Abilene); (806) 324-2302 (Amarillo)
Divisions: Beaumont and Lufkin (Beaumont office); Sherman and Texarkana (Plano office); Tyler and Marshall (Tyler office)
Clerk's phone: (409) 654-7060 (Beaumont); (903) 590-3200 (Tyler); (972) 509-1240 (Plano)
Divisions: Houston, Galveston, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen, Victoria (plus a place of holding court in College Station)
Clerk's phone: 713-250-5500 (Clerk of Court, Houston)
Divisions: Austin, El Paso, San Antonio, Waco, Midland (unstaffed)
Clerk's phone: (210) 472-6720 (San Antonio); (512) 916-5237 (Austin); (915) 779-7362 (El Paso); (254) 750-1513 (Waco)
Texas exemptions in brief
In Texas you choose state or federal exemptions (exemptions are the property the law lets you keep).
Home (homestead): no dollar limit.
Car or other vehicle: One motor vehicle (two-, three- or four-wheeled) for each family member or single adult who has a driver's license, or who relies on someone else to drive for them.
In nearby states
- Oklahoma: 1 person $61,180 · 2 people $77,208 · 3 people $86,845 · 4 people $101,798
- Louisiana: 1 person $59,447 · 2 people $72,348 · 3 people $84,602 · 4 people $103,628
- New Mexico: 1 person $66,235 · 2 people $79,574 · 3 people $88,041 · 4 people $98,602
- Arkansas: 1 person $58,421 · 2 people $73,630 · 3 people $82,329 · 4 people $97,054
- Kansas: 1 person $69,197 · 2 people $87,441 · 3 people $103,852 · 4 people $125,971
- Mississippi: 1 person $53,978 · 2 people $70,328 · 3 people $82,846 · 4 people $97,464
What to do now in Texas
Add up 6 months of income
Collect proof of all income for the last 6 months.
Fill in the first form
Your income is figured on Official Form 122A-1.
When income is higher
The second step subtracts allowed expenses on Official Form 122A-2.
File in your court
Your court: Northern District, Eastern District, Southern District and Western District.
Where to get free help in Texas
- Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas · (214) 748-1234
- Lone Star Legal Aid (also takes bankruptcy clinic calls from outside Houston, per the Southern District court) · (713) 652-0077
- Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program (free bankruptcy help in the Greater Houston area, listed by the Southern District court) · (713) 228-0732
- Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program · (214) 243-2236
- Dallas Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service · (214) 220-7400
- Dallas Bar Association LegalLine (free answers to legal questions)
- TexasLawHelp.org (Texas legal aid information and finder)
- Northern District – Court's self-help page
- Eastern District – Court's self-help page
- Southern District – Court's self-help page
- Western District – Court's self-help page
Questions about the means test in Texas
What is the homestead exemption in Texas?
No dollar limit. The limit is by land area: up to 10 acres for an urban home (city lots, may include a place of business); for a rural home, up to 200 acres for a family or 100 acres for a single adult.
How do I find my bankruptcy court in Texas?
You file in the federal district where you lived (your domicile) for most of the last 180 days. Texas has four districts; each court lists the counties for each division: Northern https://www.txnb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations, Eastern https://www.txeb.uscourts.gov/court-info/court-locations, Southern https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/page/address-hours-phone-information (choose your division), Western: each division page on https://www.txwb.uscourts.gov/ (for example https://www.txwb.uscourts.gov/austin-division).
What are the Texas means test numbers?
For cases filed on or after April 1, 2026: 1 person: $66,837; 2 people: $86,714; 3 people: $99,273; 4 people: $117,962; Each extra person: +$11,100.
Where can I get free help with bankruptcy in Texas?
Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Lone Star Legal Aid (also takes bankruptcy clinic calls from outside Houston, per the Southern District court) and Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program (free bankruptcy help in the Greater Houston area, listed by the Southern District court).