Introduction
This publication covers the federal incometax aspects of
bankruptcy. Bankruptcy proceedingsbegin with the filing of a petition
with thebankruptcy court. The filing of the petitioncreates a
bankruptcy estate, which generallyconsists of all the assets of the
person filingthe bankruptcy petition. A separate taxable entityis
created if the bankruptcy petition is filed byan individual under
chapter 7 or chapter 11 of theBankruptcy Code. These chapters
areexplained later.The tax obligations of taxable estates arediscussed
later under The BankruptcyEstate.
The tax obligations of the person filing abankruptcy petition (the
debtor) varydepending on the bankruptcy chapter under whichthe
petition was filed. For individuals, these arealso explained in the
first part of thispublication. For other entities,see
Partnerships andCorporations, later.
Generally, when a debt owed to another iscanceled the amount
canceled or forgiven isconsidered income that is taxed to the
personowing the debt. If a debt is canceled under abankruptcy
proceeding, the amount canceled is notincome. However, the canceled
debt reduces theamount of other tax benefits the debtor wouldotherwise
be entitled to.See Debt Cancellation, later.
This publication is not intendedto cover bankruptcy law in general,
or to providedetailed discussions of the tax rules for the morecomplex
corporate bankruptcy reorganizations orother highly technical
transactions. In thesecases, you should seek competent
professionaladvice.
Title 11, sec 541; sec 1398
Useful Items You may want to see:
Publication
- 536
Net Operating Losses
- 538
Accounting Periods and Methods
- 544
Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets
- 551
Basis of Assets
Form (and Instructions)
- SS-4
Application for Employer Identification Number
- 982
Reduction of Tax Attributes Due toDischarge of Indebtedness
(and Section1082 Basis Adjustment)
- 1041
U.S. Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts
- 1041-ES
Estimated Income Tax for Fiduciaries
See How To Get MoreInformation, near the end of this
publicationfor information about getting these publicationsand forms.
Individuals in Chapter 12 or 13
A separate estate, for tax purposes, is notcreated for an
individual who files a petitionunder Chapter 12 or 13 of the
Bankruptcy Code.You, the individual, should continue to file thesame
federal income tax return that was filedprior to the bankruptcy
petition.
IRC 1398 (a)
On your return, report all income receivedduring the entire year
and deduct all allowableexpenses. Do not include any debt
canceled(because of bankruptcy) in income on your return.However, you
must reduce (to the extent that you have)certain losses, credits or
basis in property bythe amount of canceled debt.See Debt
Cancellation, later.
For information about determining the amount oftax due and paying
tax, see TaxProcedures, later.
Note: Interest on trust accounts in Chapter 13 proceedings.
If you are an individual debtor in a chapter 13 wage earner's plan,
do not include as income onyour return interest earned on amounts held
intrust accounts while awaiting distribution to yourcreditors. This
interest is not available eitherto you or to your creditors. It is
available only to the trustees, and is taxable to the trustee as his or
her individual income.
28 USC 586(e)(2)(B);CC Memo 7/27/94
Individuals in Chapter 7 or 11
If you are an individual debtor who files forbankruptcy under
chapter 7 or 11 of the BankruptcyCode, a separate estate is
createdconsisting of property that belonged to you before the filing
date. This bankruptcy estate is a newtaxable entity, completely
separate from you as anindividual taxpayer.
If a husband and wife file a joint bankruptcypetition and their
estates are jointly administered,treat their estates as separate
entitiesfor tax purposes. Two separate tax returnsmust
befiled (if they separately meet the filingrequirements).
CC Memo 1/6/94;Ames L. Knobel v. Comm., 94-2 USTC
The estate, under a chapter 7proceeding, is represented by a
trustee. Thetrustee is appointed by the bankruptcy court toadminister
the estate and liquidate your nonexemptassets.In chapter 11, the
debtor remains incontrol of the assets as
adebtor-in-possession. However, sometimesthe bankruptcy court
will appoint a trustee in achapter 11 case. In this case,
thedebtor-in-possession must turn over to the trusteecontrol of the
debtor's assets and operations.
The estate may produce its ownincome as well as incur its own
expenses.See The Bankruptcy Estate, later.The creation of a
separate bankruptcy estate also gives you afresh start -with
certain exceptions,wages you earn and property youacquire after the
bankruptcy case has begun belong to you and do not become apart of the
bankruptcy estate.
IRC 1398(c)(1); P.L. 96-589, sec. 7(b);Admin. Office of the
U.S. Division of Bankruptcy;Exec. Office for U.S. Trustees
If your bankruptcy case began but was laterdismissed by the
bankruptcy court, the estate isnot treated as a separate entity, and
you aretreated as if the bankruptcy petition had neverbeen filed in
the first place. File amendedreturns on Form 1040X to replace any
returns youpreviously filed. Include on any amended returnsitems of
income, deductions, or credits that wereor would have been reported by
the bankruptcyestate on its returns and were not reported onreturns
you previously filed. However, you may notbe able to deduct
administrative expenses the formerestate could have claimed. Also, the
bankruptcyexclusion cannot be used to exclude debt that wascanceled
while you were under the bankruptcy court'sprotection. But the other
exclusions (such asinsolvency) may apply.
IRC 1398(b)(1); CC:GL 11/6/95 memo
Responsibilities of the Individual Debtor
You, as the individual debtor, generallymust file income tax
returns during the periodof the bankruptcy proceedings. Do not include
onyour return, the income, deductions, or creditsbelonging to the
separate bankruptcy estate.Also do not include as income on your
return,the debts canceled because of bankruptcy. However,the
bankruptcy estate must reduce certain losses,credits, and the basis in
property (to the extentof these items) by the amount of canceled
debt.See DebtCancellation, later.
IRC 108(a)(1)(A); IRC 1398(e)(2)
You have the option of ending your tax year onthe day before you
filed your bankruptcy petition.This allows the tax dueon that short
period return to be a claimagainst the bankruptcy estate.See
Electionto End Tax Year, later.
IRC 1398(d)(2)
See Tax Procedures, later,for information about
determining and payingthe amount of tax due.
Tax attributes.
Certain deduction and credit carryovers anddecisions that you made
in earlier years are takenover by the bankruptcy estate when you file
forbankruptcy. These include carryovers ofdeductions, losses, and
credits, your method ofaccounting, and the basis and holding period
ofassets. These are referred to as tax attributes.
When the estate is terminated, you assume anyremaining tax
attributes that were taken over bythe estate and generally assume any
attributes arisingduring the administration of the estate.See
Attribute carryovers, laterunder The Bankruptcy
Estate, fora list of attributes. Also, see
Administrativeexpenses under The BankruptcyEstate
for a limitation.
IRC 1398(g & i)
Disclosure of return information.
The bankruptcy estate's income tax returnsare open, upon written
request, to inspection byor disclosure to you the individual debtor.
Thedisclosure is necessary so that you can properlyfigure the amount
and nature of the taxattributes, if any, that you must assume when
thebankruptcy estate is terminated.
IRC 1398(e)(5)(B)
In addition, your income tax returns for theyear the bankruptcy
case begins and for earlieryears are open to inspection by or
disclosure tothe bankruptcy estate's trustee.See Disclosure of
returninformation, later, under TheBankruptcy Estate.
IRC 6103 (e)(5)(A)
Transfer of assets to the estate.
Bankruptcy law determines which of your assetsbecome part of the
bankruptcy estate. Generally,all of your legal and equitable interests
becomeproperty of the estate. However, you mayexempt certain
property fromthe estate.
A transfer (other than by sale or exchange) ofan asset from you to
the bankruptcy estate is nottreated as a disposition for income
taxpurposes. This means that the transfer does notresult in gain or
loss, recapture of deductionsor credits, or acceleration of income
ordeductions. For example, the transfer of aninstallment obligation to
the estate would notaccelerate gain under the rules for
reportinginstallment sales.
IRC 1398(f)(1)
If you receive any assets from the bankruptcyestatewhen it
terminates, do not treat the transfer as ataxable disposition. You
treat these assets the sameas the bankruptcy estate would have treated
them.This includes using the same basis, holding period,and character
of the assets as the bankruptcy estatedid before it was terminated.
IRC 1398(f)(2)
Abandonments.
If you receive abandoned property from the estate,you receive the
same basis in the property that theestate had.
CC IT&A Memo 5/3/95
Carrybacks from your activities.
As the individual debtor, you cannot carry backany net operating
loss or credit carryback from a taxyear ending after the bankruptcy
case has begun to anytax year ending before the case began. Theestate,
however, can carry the loss back to offsetyour pre-bankruptcy income.
IRC 1398(j)(2)(B)
Election to End Tax Year
If you are an individual debtor and have assets(other than those
you exempt from the bankruptcyestate), you may choose to end your
taxyear on the day before the filing of yourbankruptcy case. Then your
tax year is dividedinto 2 short tax years of fewer than
12months each. The first year ends on the day beforethe filing date,
and the second year begins withthe filing date and ends on the date
your tax yearnormally ends. Once you make this choice, you maynot
change it. Any income taxliability for the first short tax year
becomes anallowable claim (as a claim arising beforebankruptcy)
against the bankruptcy estate. If thistax liability is not paid in the
bankruptcyproceeding, the liability is not canceled becauseof
bankruptcy and it can be collected from you asan individual.
11 USC 507(a)(7); 11 USC 523(a)(1);IRC 1398(d)(2)(A) and (C); IRC
1398(d)(3)
If you do not choose to end the tax year,then no part of your tax
liability for the year inwhich bankruptcy proceedings begin can
becollected from the estate.
11 USC 523(a)(1)
Making the election.
If you choose to end yourtax year, you do so by filing a return on
Form1040 for the first short tax year on or before the15th day of the
fourth full month after the end ofthat first tax year.
Example.
John Doe files a bankruptcypetition on July 10. To have a timely
filedelection, he must file Form 1040 (or anextension) for the period
January 1 throughJuly 9 by November 15.
To avoid delays in processingthe return, write Section
1398Election at the top of the return. You mayalso make the
election by attaching a statementto an application for extension of
time to filea tax return (Form 4868 or other). Thestatement must say
that you chooseunder section 1398(d)(2) to close your taxyear on the
day before the filing of thebankruptcy case. You must file the
applicationfor extension by the due date of the return forthe first
short tax year. If your spouse decidesto also close his or her
taxyear, see Election by debtor'sspouse, next.
Reg. 301.9100-14T(d)
Election by debtor's spouse.
If you aremarried, your spouse may also join in the choiceto end
the tax year, but only if you and yourspouse file a joint return for
the first short taxyear. You must make these choices by the due
datefor filing the return for the first short taxyear. Once you make
the choice, it cannot berevoked for the first year; however, the
choicedoes not mean that you and your spouse must file ajoint return
for the second short tax year.
IRC 1398(d)(2)(B) & (D)
Later bankruptcy of spouse.
If your spouse files for bankruptcy later inthe same year, he or
she may also choose to endhis or her tax year, regardless of whether
he orshe joined in the choice to end your tax year.Because each of you
has a separate bankruptcy, oneor both of you may have 3 short tax
years in thesame calendar year. If your spouse had joined inyour
choice, or if you had not made the choice toend your tax year, you can
join in your spouse'schoice. But if you had made an election and
yourspouse did not join in the election, you cannotjoin in your
spouse's later election. This isbecause you and your spouse, having
different taxyears, could not file a joint return for a yearending on
the day before your spouse's filing ofbankruptcy.
Reg. 301.9100-14T(f)
Example 1.
Paul and Mary Harris arecalendar-year taxpayers. A voluntary
chapter 7bankruptcy case involving only Paul begins onMarch 4.
If Paul does not make an election, his tax yeardoes not end on
March 3. If he does make anelection, Paul's first tax year isJanuary
1-March 3, and his second short taxyear begins on March 4.Mary
could join in Paul's election as long as theyfile a joint return for
the tax year January1-March 3. They must make the election byJuly
15, the due date for filing the joint return.
Example 2.
Fred and Ethel Barnes arecalendar-year taxpayers. A voluntary
chapter 7bankruptcy case involving only Fred begins onMay 6, and a
bankruptcy case involving only Ethelbegins on November 1 of the same
year.
Ethel could choose to end her tax year onOctober 31. If Fred had
not elected to end his taxyear on May 5, or if he had elected to do so
butEthel had not joined in his election, Ethel wouldhave 2 tax years
in the same calendar year if shedecided to close her tax year. Her
first tax yearis January 1-October 31, and her second year
isNovember 1-December 31.
If Fred had not decided to end his tax year asof May 5, he could
join in Ethel's choice to closeher tax year on October 31, but only if
they filea joint return for the tax yearJanuary 1-October 31.
IfFred had elected to end his tax year on May 5, butEthel had not
joined in Fred's choice, Fred couldnot join in Ethel's choice to end
her tax year onOctober 31, because they could not file a jointreturn
for that short year. They could not file ajoint return because their
tax years precedingOctober 31 were not the same.
Example 3.
Jack and Karen Thomas arecalendar-year taxpayers. A voluntary
chapter 7bankruptcy case involving only Karen begins onApril 10, and a
voluntary chapter 7 bankruptcycase involving only Jack begins on
October 3 ofthe same year. Karen chooses to close her tax yearon April
9 and Jack joins in Karen's choice.
Under these facts, Jack would have 3 taxyears for the same calendar
year if he makes theelection relating to his own bankruptcy case.
Thefirst tax year would be January 1-April 9; thesecond April
10-October 2; and the thirdOctober 3-December 31.
Karen may (but does not have to) join in Jack'selection if they
file a joint return for thesecond short tax year (April 10-October
2). IfKaren does join in, she would have the same 3short tax years as
Jack. Also, if Karen joins inJack's election, they may file a joint
return forthe third tax year (October 3-December 31), butthey are
not required to do so.
Annualizing taxable income.
If you choose toclose your tax year, you must annualize yourtaxable
income for each short tax year the sameway it is done for a change in
an annualaccounting period.See Short Tax Year inPublication
538, AccountingPeriods and Methods, for information on
howto annualize your income and how to figure yourtax for the short
tax year.
IRC 1398(d)(2)(F)
Filing requirement.
If you elect to end yourtax year on the day before filing the
bankruptcycase, you must file the return for the first shorttax year
as explainedearlier under Making the election.
If you make this election, you mustalso file a separate Form 1040
for thesecond short tax year by the regular due date. Youshould note
on the return that it is the Second Short Year Return After
Section1398 Election.
Ann. 81-96
If the bankruptcy case is later dismissed,you (the debtor) must
file an amendedreturn to replace any full or short year returnsthat
you filed. Attach a statement to any amendedreturn you file explaining
why you are filing anamended return. In this situation, no
bankruptcyestate is created for tax purposes. Income thatwas or would
be reported by the bankruptcy estatemust be reported on your return.
Ann 81-96; CC Memo
The Bankruptcy Estate
The filing of a bankruptcy petition for anindividual debtor under
chapter 7 or chapter 11of the bankruptcy code creates a separate
taxablebankruptcy estate. The trustee (for chapter 7cases) or the
debtor-in-possession (forchapter 11 cases) is generally responsible
forpreparing and filing theestate's tax returns and paying its
taxes.The debtor remains responsible for filing returnsand paying
taxes on any income that does notbelong to the estate.
If a bankruptcy case begins, but later isdismissed by the
bankruptcy court, the estate isnot treated as a separate taxable
entity. If taxreturns have been filed for the estate, amendedreturns
must be filed to move income anddeductions from the estate's returns
to thedebtor's returns. If no returns have been filed,report all
income and deductions on the debtor'sreturns.
Ann 81-96; CC Memo
The following discussions provide taxinformation for the bankruptcy
estate.
Treatment of income,deductions, and credits.
The gross income of the bankruptcy estateincludes any of the
debtor's gross income to whichthe estate is entitled under the
bankruptcy law.The estate's gross income alsoincludes any income the
estate isentitled to and receives or accrues after thebeginning of the
bankruptcy case.Gross income of the bankruptcy estate does notinclude
amounts received or accrued by the debtorbefore the bankruptcy
petition date.
IRC 1398(e)(1) and (2)
The bankruptcy estate may deduct or take as acredit any expenses it
pays or incurs, the sameway that the debtor would have deducted
orcredited them had he or she continued in the sametrade, business, or
activity and actually paid oraccrued the expenses. Allowable expenses
includeadministrative expenses, such as attorney fees andcourt costs.
These are discussed laterunder Administrative expenses.
IRC 1398(e)(3)
The bankruptcy estate figures its taxableincome the same way as an
individual figures hisor her taxable income. The estate can take
onepersonal exemption and either individual(itemized) deductions or
the basic standarddeduction for a married individual filing aseparate
return. The estate cannot take the higherstandard deduction allowed
for married personsfiling separately who are 65 or older or blind.The
estate uses the rates for a marriedindividual filing separately to
figure the tax onits taxable income.
IRC 1398(c)
Transfer of assets between debtor and estate.
Bankruptcy law determines which of thedebtor's assets become part
of the bankruptcyestate. These assets are treated the samein the
estate's hands as they were in the debtor'shands.
11 USC 541; IRC 1398(g)(6)
A transfer (other than by sale or exchange) ofan asset from the
debtor to the bankruptcy estateis not treated as a disposition
for incometax purposes. This means that the transfer doesnot result in
gain or loss, recapture ofdeductions or credits, or acceleration of
incomeor deductions. For example, the transfer of aninstallment
obligation to the estate would notaccelerate gain under the rules for
reportinginstallment sales. The estate is treated the sameway the
debtor would be regarding the transferredasset.
IRC 1398(f)(1)
When the bankruptcy estate is terminated, thatis, dissolved, any
resulting transfer (other thanby sale or exchange) of the estate's
assets backto the debtor is not treated as a disposition.This transfer
does not result ingain or loss, recapture of deductions or credits,or
acceleration of income or deductions to theestate.
IRC 1398(f)(2)
The abandonment of property by the estate to thedebtor is a
nontaxable disposition of property.
CC: IT&A Memo dated 5/3/95
Attribute carryovers.
The bankruptcy estate must treat its taxattributes the same way
that the debtorwould have treated them.These items must be determined
as of the first dayof the debtor's tax year in which the
bankruptcycase begins. The bankruptcy estate gets thefollowing tax
attributes from the debtor:
IRC 1398(g)
- Net operating loss carryovers,
- Carryovers of excess charitable contributions,
- Recovery of tax benefit items,
- Credit carryovers,
- Capital loss carryovers,
- Basis, holding period, and character ofassets,
- Method of accounting,
- Passive activity loss and credit carryovers,
- Unused at-risk deductions, and
- Other tax attributes as provided inregulations.
IRC 1398(g)(1)-(8); TD 8537
Certain tax attributes of the estate must bereduced by any excluded
income from cancellationof debt occurring in a bankruptcy
proceeding.See Debt Cancellation, later.
Termination of the estate.
If the bankruptcyestate has any tax attributes at the time it
isterminated, they are assumed by the debtor.
IRC 1398(i)
Passive and at-risk activities.
For bankruptcy cases beginning on or afterNovember 9, 1992, treat
passive activity carryoverlosses and credits and unused at-risk
deductionsas tax attributes that the debtor passes to thebankruptcy
estate and the estate passes back tothe debtor when the estate
terminates.Additionally, transfers to the debtor (otherthan by sale or
exchange) of interests in passiveor at-risk activities are treated as
exchangesthat are not taxable. These transfers include thereturn of
exempt property to the debtor and theabandonment of estate property to
the debtor.
Reg 1.1398-1&2
Cases beginning before November 9, 1992.
If a bankruptcy case begins beforeNovember 9, 1992, and ends on or
after that date,the debtor and the trustee for an individualchapter 7
case (the debtor-in-possession for anindividual chapter 11 case) can
elect to havethese provisions apply. In a chapter 7 case, theelection
is made jointly by the debtor and thetrustee of the bankruptcy estate.
In achapter 11 case, theelection is incorporated in the bankruptcy
plan.See IRS regulations 1.1398-1 and1.1398-2 for
moreinformation on how to make this election.
Reg 1.1398-1&2
Administrative expenses.
The bankruptcy estate is allowed a deductionfor administrative
expenses and any fees orcharges assessed it. These expenses
aregenerally deductible as itemized deductionssubject to the 2% floor
on miscellaneous itemizeddeductions. However, administrative
expensesattributable to the conduct of a trade or businessby the
bankruptcy estate or the production of theestate's rents or royalties
are deductible inarriving at adjusted gross income.
CC:IT&A Memo dated 7/27/94
The expenses are subject todisallowance under other provisions of
theInternal Revenue Code, such as disallowingcertain capital
expenditures, taxes, or expensesrelating to tax-exempt interest. These
expensescan only be deducted by the estate, and never bythe debtor.
IRC 1398(h)(1) and (2)(D)
If the administrative expenses of thebankruptcy estate are more
than its gross incomefor the tax year, the excess amount may be
carriedback 3 years and forward 7 years. The amountscan only be
carried back or forward to a tax yearof the estate and never to the
debtor's tax year.The excess amount to becarried back or forward is
treated like a netoperating loss and must first be carried back tothe
earliest year possible. For a discussion ofthe net operating loss,see
Publication 536, Net OperatingLosses.
IRC 1398(h)(2)
Change of accounting period.
The bankruptcyestate may change its accounting period (tax
year)once without getting approval fromthe Internal Revenue Service.
This rule allows thetrustee of the estate to close the estate's
taxyear early, before the expected termination ofthe estate. The
trustee can then file a return forthe first short tax year to get a
quickdetermination of the estate's tax liability.
IRC 1398(j)(1); 11 U.S.C. 505
Carrybacks from the estate.
If the bankruptcyestate itself has a net operating loss,
separatefrom any losses passing to the estate from thedebtor under the
attribute carryover rules, thebankruptcy estate can carry the loss
back not onlyto its own earlier tax years but also to thedebtor's tax
years before the year the bankruptcy case began. The estate may also
carryback excess credits, such as the general businesscredit, to the
pre-bankruptcy years.
IRC 1398(j)(2)(A) and (C)(i)
Return Requirements
and Payment of Tax
The trustee (or debtor-in-possession) must filean income tax return
on Form 1041, U.S.Income Tax Return for Estates and Trusts
if theestate has gross income that meets or exceeds theamount
required for filing. This amount is thetotal of the personal exemption
amount and thebasic standard deduction for a married individualfiling
separately. See the Form 1041instructions for the current year's
amount.
IRC 6012(a)(9)
If a return is required, the trustee (ordebtor-in-possession)
completes theidentification area at the top of the Form 1041and lines
23-29 and signs and dates it.Form 1041 is a transmittalfor Form
1040, U.S. Individual IncomeTax Return. Complete Form 1040
and figurethe tax using the tax rate schedule for amarried person
filing separately. In the topmargin of Form 1040, write Attachment
toForm 1041. DO NOT DETACH. AttachForm 1040 to the Form
1041.
Instr Form 1041
Note:
The filing of a tax return for thebankruptcy estate does not
relieve the individualdebtor of his or her tax
filingrequirement.
Estimated tax.
The trustee or debtor-in-possession must payestimated tax (if any
is due) for the bankruptcyestate. See the Instructions to
Form1041-ES, Estimated Income Tax forFiduciaries, for
informationregarding the dollar limits and exceptions tofiling Form
1041-ES and paying estimatedtax.
CC Memo dated 11/19/93; Instr Form 1041
Employer identification number.
The trustee (or debtor-in-possession) mustobtain an employer
identification number (EIN) fora bankruptcy estate if the estate must
file anyform, statement, or document with the IRS. Thetrustee uses
this EIN onany tax return filed for the bankruptcy estateincluding
estimated tax returns. The trustee canobtain an EIN for a bankruptcy
estate by filingForm SS-4, Application for
EmployerIdentification Number. Form SS-4 isavailable at IRS
or Social Security Offices.Trustees representing ten or more
bankruptcyestates (other than estates that will befiling employment or
excise tax returns) mayfile a consolidated application to obtain
blocksof ten or more EINs by following the proceduresset out in
RevenueProcedure 89-37, 1989-1 C.B. 919.
Rev Proc 89-37; IRC 6109
Note:
The social security number of theindividual debtor cannot
be used as theEIN for the bankruptcy estate.
Employment taxes.
The trustee (or debtor-in-possession)must withhold income and
social security taxesand file employment tax returns forany wages paid
by the trustee (or debtor),including wage claims paid as
administrativeexpenses. Until these employment taxes aredeposited as
required by the Internal RevenueCode, they should be set apart in a
separate bankaccount to ensure that funds are available tosatisfy the
liability. If the employment taxes arenot paid as required, the
trustee may be heldpersonally liable for payment of the taxes.See
Publication 15,Circular E,Employer's Tax Guide, for
detailson employer tax responsibilities.
The trustee has the duty to prepare and fileForms W-2, Wage
and TaxStatement, in connection with wage claimspaid by the
trustee, regardless of whether theclaims accrued before or during
bankruptcy. Ifthe debtor fails to prepare and file FormsW-2 for
wages paid before bankruptcy, thetrustee should instruct the employees
to file anIRS Form 4852, SUBSTITUTE FOR FORMW-2, WAGE AND TAX
STATEMENT OR FORM1099R, DISTRIBUTIONS FROM PENSIONS,
ANNUITIES,RETIREMENT OR PROFIT-SHARING PLANS, IRA'S,INSURANCE
CONTRACTS, ETC., with theirindividual income tax returns.
U.S. Dept. of Justice
Disclosure of return information.
The debtor's income tax returns for the yearthe bankruptcy case
begins and for earlier yearsare, upon written request, open to
inspectionby or disclosure to the trustee.If the bankruptcy case was
not voluntary,disclosure cannot be made before the bankruptcycourt has
entered an order for relief, unlessthe court rules that the disclosure
is needed fordetermining whether relief should be ordered.
IRC 6103(e)(5)
For information concerning the disclosure ofthe bankruptcy estate's
tax returnsee Disclosure of returninformation, earlier,
under Responsibilities of theIndividual Debtor.
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