Internal Revenue Service

Bankruptcy Tax Guide - Publication 908 (For use in preparing 2020 Return) Internal Revenue Service

This publication isn't intended to cover bankruptcy law in general, or to provide detailed discussions of the tax rules for the more complex corporate bankruptcy reorganizations or other highly technical transactions. Additionally, this publication isn't updated on an annual basis and may not reflect recent developments in bankruptcy or tax law. If you need more guidance on the bankruptcy or tax laws applicable to your case, you should seek professional advice. This publication explains the basic federal income tax aspects of bankruptcy. A fundamental goal of the bankruptcy laws enacted by Congress is to give an honest debtor a financial "fresh start". This is accomplished through the bankruptcy discharge, which is a permanent injunction (court-ordered prohibition) against the collection of certain debts as a personal liability of the debtor. Bankruptcy proceedings begin with the filing of either a voluntary petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court, or in certain cases an involuntary petition filed by creditors.