High-interest loans -- which could include payday loans or unsecured personal loans -- can be considered bad debt, as the high interest payments can be difficult for the borrower to pay back, often putting them in a worse financial situation.
With installment debt, on the other hand, borrowers receive a lump sum instead of a revolving credit line. Interest rates are typically fixed on installment debt, so minimum payments remain the same each month. Personal loans and mortgages are the most common types of installment debt.
A personal loan can stay on your credit report anywhere from a few years to up to a decade, depending on how you manage your debt. Missed payments may remain on your report for seven years, while bankruptcies and closed accounts that you've paid in full could stay on your report for a decade.
A personal loan can affect your credit score in several ways—both good and bad. Taking out a personal loan isn't bad for your credit score in and of itself. However, it may affect your overall score in the short term and make it more difficult for you to obtain additional credit until the loan is repaid.
For a score with a range of 300 to 850, a credit score of 670 to 739 is considered good. Credit scores of 740 and above are very good while 800 and higher are excellent.
Generally, personal loan borrowers do not owe taxes on a personal loan unless that loan is forgiven or cancelled before paid back in full. That is because while the IRS usually requires taxes to be paid on money you receive, when you take a personal loan, the loan amount is usually not considered to be earned income.
If you have high credit card balances, a personal loan can help you pay off your credit card debt in full. This action will not only give you the peace of mind that comes with being out of credit card debt, it might also increase your credit score.
Risks of taking out a personal loan can include high interest rates, prepayment fees, origination fees, damage to your credit score and an unmanageable debt burden.
Debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debt obligations compared to your gross monthly income (before taxes), expressed as a percentage. A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.
Generally speaking, cars purchased with a large down payment and with a short-term car loan are considered to be good debt. That's because large down payments usually mean lower interest rates. Further, a shorter loan term means you'll pay less in interest over the life of the loan.
Only nonbusiness loans count (a nonbusiness loan = a personal loan). The IRS says, “Nonbusiness bad debts must be totally worthless to be deductible.” A worthless debt means one that was not paid back at all. The loan cannot be a gift you provided with the understanding you may not get the money back.
Higher Interest Rates for Poor Credit
While personal loans can be a great way to get financial relief, they may come with higher interest rates, especially for those with lower credit scores. Lenders set these rates to compensate for the increased risk, which could make the loan more expensive for you.
Student loans and car loans count as debt. So do credit cards, even if you always pay the balance in full.
Key Takeaways
Paying off a personal loan early may save you money in interest, but it's important to consider all factors before you make that lump-sum payment. Make sure you have three to six months of living expenses in reserve before you think about paying down your loan early.
Generally, your credit card is good for making smaller, day-to-day purchases and paying off smaller amounts faster. If you're needing to make a big purchase, finance a large on-time expense, looking to consolidate your debt or needing more time to pay back the money - a personal loan is better suited.
If you miss a payment on your loan, even just once, your score could drop up to 180 points. Even after you've paid off your personal loan, the account will stay on your credit report for up to 10 years.
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.
Despite the overall flexibility to use your funds as you wish, there are some limits. Personal loan money generally cannot be used for college tuition and other post-high school education expenses, investing and anything illegal.
Personal loans could be reported to the three major credit bureaus, Experian®, Equifax® and TransUnion®, which means they can hurt or help your credit scores.
What is the highest credit score possible? To start off: No, it's not possible to have a 900 credit score in the United States. In some countries that use other models, like Canada, people could have a score of 900. The current scoring models in the U.S. have a maximum of 850.