Do I have to pay taxes if my student loans are forgiven?

Asked by: Destany Farrell  |  Last update: March 20, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (68 votes)

If you still have a balance remaining when you reach your maximum repayment period, the remainder is forgiven. Forgiven balances can be treated as taxable income when your loans are canceled. However, the American Rescue Plan has exempted student loan forgiveness from taxability for the tax years 2021-2025.

Do I have to report forgiven debt on my tax return?

Generally, if you borrow money from a commercial lender and the lender later cancels or forgives the debt, you may have to include the cancelled amount in income for tax purposes. The lender is usually required to report the amount of the canceled debt to you and the IRS on a Form 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt.

Are forgivable loans taxable?

Once these requirements are satisfied, the principal of the loan is forgiven and, therefore, not required to be paid back to the employer. The principal of the loan is considered income to the employee and is taxable.

What happens when your student loan is forgiven?

In certain situations, you can have your federal student loans forgiven, canceled, or discharged. That means you won't have to pay back some or all of your loan(s). The terms “forgiveness,” “cancellation,” and “discharge” mean essentially the same thing.

Do I have to pay taxes on my student loan refund?

You won't get taxed by the federal government, but your state might tax you. Any debt forgiven as a result of a payment count adjustment won't create a federal tax liability for you. The American Rescue Plan Act includes a provision temporarily modifying the tax treatment of forgiven or discharged student loan debt.

Taxes and Student Loan Forgiveness

15 related questions found

Do I need to report student loan forgiveness on my taxes?

Are loan amounts forgiven under Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) considered taxable by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)? According to the IRS, student loan amounts forgiven under PSLF are not considered income for tax purposes. Learn more about the PSLF process.

Do you have to declare student loans on taxes?

When filing taxes, don't report your student loans as income. Student loans aren't taxable because you'll eventually repay them. Free money used for school is treated differently. You don't pay taxes on scholarship or fellowship money used toward tuition, fees and equipment or books required for coursework.

What are the cons of student loan forgiveness?

  • Con 1: Student loan forgiveness is an abuse of the loan system. ...
  • Con 2: Student loan debt forgiveness would disproportionately help rich or more financially secure college graduates. ...
  • Con 3: Discharging student loan debt would be only a temporary bandage for the much larger problem of inflated college costs.

What will happen to my credit when my student loans are forgiven?

Credit mix: Those who qualify for loan forgiveness may see their scores drop by a few points if the student loan was their only installment loan, as their credit mix (i.e., the different types of credit accounts they have) accounts for 10% of their FICO Score.

Will I get a refund after student loan forgiveness?

If you have already received forgiveness or paid off your loans, you are not eligible for a refund of prior payments.

Will you get a 1099-C for student loan forgiveness?

When you receive any type of debt forgiveness for more than $600, the creditor is supposed to send you a Form 1099-C. You'll find, in box 2, an amount of tax forgiven, and you need to enter that amount on your tax return marked “other income.” The IRS generally considers forgiven debt as income for tax purposes.

Do I have to pay taxes on a repaid loan?

A personal loan doesn't generally qualify as taxable income because it's a form of debt that must be repaid. Even though you receive all the funds at once, it's not considered income if you pay it back as agreed. That's true even if you use the proceeds for personal needs, such as paying for an emergency expense.

Do you have to pay back a forgivable loan?

The term of the Forgivable Loan matches the term of the CalHFA first mortgage not to exceed thirty (30) years. Payments on Forgivable Loan are deferred for the life of the first loan. The Forgivable Loan is due and payable when certain events occur.

Does a forgiven loan count as income?

In general, if your debt is canceled, forgiven, or discharged for less than the amount owed, the amount of the canceled debt is taxable.

Do I still owe debt if I get a 1099-C?

No, a creditor generally cannot collect the debt after it is forgiven and a Form 1099-C has been issued, although creditors may try to collect other debts. It might be best for you to get legal advice in this case.

What happens if you owe the IRS more than $25,000?

If you owe the IRS more than $25,000, it's important to understand what can happen next and what actions you can take. The IRS escalates its collection efforts when the amount owed exceeds $25,000, which can result in severe penalties such as asset seizure, bank levy, wage garnishment, and even passport revocation.

What happens after your student loans are forgiven?

Key Takeaways. When your student loan debt is forgiven, you'll be sent notice of how much is canceled and whether you still owe anything more. If your loan is discharged because of fraud or deception on the part of the school, you may get a refund of some payments.

Why did my student loan disappear from my credit report?

Student loans disappear from credit reports 7.5 years from the date they are paid in full, charged-off, or entered default. However, education debt can reappear if you dig out of default with consolidation or loan rehabilitation. Student loans can have an outsized impact on your credit score.

Is loan forgiveness worth it?

In summary, the public service loan forgiveness program could be an efficient way to pay off your student loans if you satisfy the requirements needed and have a decent student loan balance. If you are trying for the PSLF program, it is important to communicate with you loan servicer.

Why don't people like student loan forgiveness?

Some who oppose student loan forgiveness view education as a private commodity that benefits the person who purchases it."

Does student loan forgiveness hurt my credit score?

If your federal student loans are forgiven, you could get a refund, and you might see your credit score dip.

Will forgiving student loans hurt the economy?

Student loan debt slows new business growth and limits consumer spending. Broad student loan debt forgiveness may help boost the national economy by making it more affordable for borrowers to participate in it.

Will my tax refund go to student loans?

The government may take your federal income tax refund if you are in default. Computer records of all borrowers in default are sent to the I.R.S. If you are in default on your federal student loans, all or a portion of your tax refund may be taken and applied automatically to your federal student loan debt.

How to get the full $2500 American Opportunity credit?

To claim the American opportunity credit complete Form 8863 and submit it with your Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Enter the nonrefundable part of the credit on Schedule 3 (Form 1040 or 1040-SR), line 3. Enter the refundable part of the credit on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, line 29.

How does a 1098 affect my taxes?

How Does a 1098 Affect My Taxes? If you want to claim a deduction for the amount of interest you've paid on your mortgage over the last year, you can file the 1098 form(s) you received. By claiming the deduction, you'll be able to directly reduce your taxable income.