Small Business Subchapter V Elections Increase 46% Compared to Last Year

Total Bankruptcy Filings Increase 11%

NEW YORK/ALEXANDRIA, Oct. 8, 2026 - The 2442 Subchapter V elections within Chapter 11 filed during the first nine months of 2026 increased 46% from the 1672 filings during the same period in 2025, according to data provided by Epiq AACER, the leading provider of US bankruptcy filing data.

Key bankruptcy statistics from January 1 to September 30, 2026, include:

• 469,719 total bankruptcy filings, an 11% increase from the same period in 2025 (423,168).
• 444,252 individual bankruptcy filings, a 7% increase from 2025 (399,379).
• 282,413 individual Chapter 7 filings, a 13% increase from 2025 (249,130).
• 160,817 individual Chapter 13 filings, an 8% increase from 2025 (149,347).

"The continued increase in bankruptcy filings reflects the strain of higher borrowing costs, rising household expenses, growing consumer delinquencies, and a softer job market," said Michael Hunter, Vice President of Epiq AACER. "As cost pressures mount, more small businesses are turning to Subchapter V to reorganize, and we expect filing volumes to keep climbing into 2027."

Commercial filing activity from January 1 to September 30, 2026, include:

• 25,467 overall commercial filings, a 7% increase from 2025 (23,789).
• 6560 commercial Chapter 11 filings, an 11% increase from 2025 (5895).

"The increase in bankruptcy filings, especially among small businesses, highlights the challenges many debtors continue to face amid persistent inflationary pressures, elevated borrowing costs, and economic uncertainty," said Amy Quackenboss, Executive Director at the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI). "Congress recently passed legislation that would permanently increase the eligibility limits for both Subchapter V and Chapter 13, expanding access for struggling businesses and families seeking bankruptcy relief."

The bipartisan Bankruptcy Threshold Adjustment Act (H.R. 7730), sponsored by Rep. Ben Cline (R-Va.), passed the Senate on September 28 and would permanently restore the Subchapter V debt eligibility limit to $7.5 million, reflecting the recommendations of ABI's Subchapter V Task Force. The legislation also would increase the Chapter 13 debt limit to $2.75 million and eliminate the distinction between secured and unsecured debt for eligibility purposes, consistent with reforms proposed by ABI's Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy. H.R. 7730 has been sent to the president for signature. The Senate previously passed companion legislation, S. 3977, sponsored by Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).

September 2026 filing activity includes:

• 276 Subchapter V elections, a 38% increase from September 2025 (200).
• 52,299 total filings, a 6% increase from September 2025 (49,216).
• 2627 commercial filings, a 7% decrease from September 2025 (2823).
• 648 commercial Chapter 11 filings, a 16% decrease from September 2025 (769). (The September 2025 commercial filing total included 109 related filings by the filing of a long-term care pharmacy services provider.)
• 49,672 individual filings, a 7% increase from September 2025 (46,393).
• 31,250 individual Chapter 7s, a 9% increase from September 2025 (28,763).
• 18,320 individual Chapter 13s, a 4% increase from September 2025 (17,534).

ABI partners with Epiq Bankruptcy to provide the most current bankruptcy filing data for analysts, researchers, and members of the news media. Epiq Bankruptcy is the leading provider of data, technology, and services for companies operating in the business of bankruptcy. Its Bankruptcy Analytics subscription service provides on-demand access to the industry's most dynamic bankruptcy data, updated daily. Learn more.

About Epiq
Epiq, a technology and services leader, takes on large-scale and complex tasks for corporations, law firms, and the courts by integrating people, process, technology, and data intelligence. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline legal, compliance, and settlement administration workflows to drive efficiency, minimize risk, and improve cost savings. With a presence in 17 countries, our values define who we are and how we partner with clients and communities. Learn how Epiq and its 4000 people worldwide create meaningful change at epiqglobal.com.

About ABI 
ABI is the largest multi-disciplinary, nonpartisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes nearly 10,000 attorneys, accountants, bankers, judges, professors, lenders, turnaround specialists, and other bankruptcy professionals, providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. For additional information on ABI, visit www.abi.org. For additional conference information, visit http://www.abi.org/calendar-of-events.

Press Contacts
John Lute
Senior Director, Marketing, Epiq
[email protected]

John Hartgen
Public Affairs Officer, ABI
[email protected]