September 2026 Bankruptcy Rule Report: Arizona & Washington Exemptions, Median Income & Means-Test Standards
Reviewed September 1, 2026
Our September 2026 review of the official sources for Arizona and Washington: current bankruptcy exemption amounts, state median family income, and the IRS and U.S. Trustee means-test expense standards. Every figure below is listed with the statute or official table it comes from, its effective date, and a direct link to the government source.
Arizona
homestead exemption
$437,600 (Equity)A.R.S. § 33-1101 ↗ · effective January 1, 2026
This figure was adjusted upward from the $400,000 base as of January 1, 2026, to account for the annual cost-of-living adjustment required by A.R.S. § 33-1101(D).
motor vehicle exemption
$16,500 ($27,500 if the debtor or a dependent has a physical disability)A.R.S. § 33-1125(8) ↗ · effective January 1, 2026
The base amount ($15,000) was adjusted for inflation on January 1, 2026, pursuant to the annual adjustment clause in the statute.
household goods / personal property exemption
$16,500 (Aggregate fair market value)A.R.S. § 33-1123 ↗ · effective January 1, 2026
Like the vehicle and homestead exemptions, the $15,000 base for household furniture and appliances is adjusted annually for inflation.
tools of the trade exemption
$5,000 (Aggregate fair market value)A.R.S. § 33-1130(1) ↗ · effective Currently in effect (Statutory base)
This statute does not include an automatic annual inflation adjustment provision similar to the homestead or vehicle statutes.
wage garnishment limit
The lesser of 10% of disposable earnings or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 60 times the highest applicable minimum wage ($15.15/hr statewide in 2026; $909.00/week floor).A.R.S. § 33-1131 ↗ · effective January 1, 2026 (based on 2026 minimum wage update)
Proposition 209 (2022) significantly reduced the garnishment cap from the previous 25% to the current 10% for most consumer debts.
state median family income (U.S. Trustee tables)
1 Earner: $73,935; 2 People: $89,027; 3 People: $104,965; 4 People: $121,174 (Add $11,100 for each additional person)U.S. Trustee Program, Means Testing Data ↗ · effective Cases filed on or after July 15, 2026
None
IRS national and local expense standards
National (Food, Clothing, Misc): $867 to $2,129; National (Healthcare): $90 to $163; Local (Housing & Utilities): Varies by county; Local (Transportation): Ownership $619/vehicle (National Cap)U.S. Trustee Program (IRS Data Tables) ↗ · effective Cases filed on or after July 15, 2026
These figures were updated mid-year 2026 to reflect recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Washington
Homestead Exemption
Greater of $125,000 or the county median sale price of a single-family home in the preceding calendar yearRCW 6.13.030 ↗ · effective 2021-07-25
The statute was amended in 2021 to include the county median sale price as an alternative to the fixed dollar amount.
Motor Vehicle Exemption
$3,250RCW 6.15.010(3)(a) ↗ · effective 2024-08-12
This figure is subject to periodic legislative adjustment; recent updates have been noted in Washington bankruptcy practice guides.
Household Goods / Personal Property Exemption
$10,000RCW 6.15.010(1) ↗ · effective 2024-08-12
This represents the aggregate value for personal property not otherwise specifically exempted.
Tools of the Trade Exemption
$10,000RCW 6.15.010(4)(a) ↗ · effective 2024-08-12
Applies to tools, instruments, and materials used to carry on a trade, occupation, or profession.
Wage Garnishment Limit
Greater of 75% of disposable earnings or 35 times the federal minimum hourly wageRCW 6.27.150 ↗ · effective 2024-08-12
Washington law provides specific protections for disposable earnings; federal law (15 U.S.C. § 1673) also applies.
State Median Family Income (1-person household)
$88,58511 U.S.C. § 101(39A)(B) ↗ · effective 2026-04-01
Figures are updated annually by the U.S. Trustee Program based on Census Bureau data.
IRS National Expense Standards (Food & Clothing, 1-person)
$59011 U.S.C. § 707(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) ↗ · effective 2026-04-01
These standards are used for the means test and are updated periodically by the IRS and U.S. Trustee Program.
How to use this report
Each row lists the figure we found, the statute or official table it comes from, and its effective date. Click the citation to open the government source. Exemption amounts, median income tables, and means-test expense standards are adjusted on their own schedules, so a figure that was current this month may change next month — always confirm at the linked source.
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