How does claiming bankruptcy affect taxes?

You don’t indicate whether you are writing about past taxes, such as taxes you owe but have not yet paid; your future tax obligations; or both.

In terms of past taxes, declaring bankruptcy may allow you to discharge—or get out from under—certain tax debts. Be aware that it is not certain that you can discharge your particular tax debts; in the words of the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, “Debts not discharged include . . . certain taxes.”

Whether or not the specific tax debts you may be concerned with could be discharged depends on the type of tax, how old the debt is (generally, recent tax debts are not dischargeable), and also your exact financial situation. A bankruptcy attorney can help you evaluate whether bankruptcy might discharge any given or particular tax debts of yours.

In terms of forward-looking taxes, you are still obligated to file and pay them post-bankruptcy. In fact, if you fail to file, it can have adverse consequences on your bankruptcy filing.