Published 1 hour ago • loading... • Updated 2 hours ago
Student Loan Forgiveness Could Triple Tax Bill for Many Borrowers: Report
Protect Borrowers said 2 million to 3 million borrowers could owe thousands more in federal taxes when forgiven debt is counted as income.
On Wednesday, advocacy group Protect Borrowers released a report warning that up to 3 million federal student loan borrowers could face tax bills of nearly $12,000 on debt forgiven under income-driven repayment plans.
The tax exposure stems from the expiration of relief Congress had previously put in place under the American Rescue Plan Act, which shielded federal student loan discharges from federal income tax until December 31, 2025.
Jennifer Zhang, policy analyst at Protect Borrowers, warned the situation forces working-class families to "trade their student loan debt for debt to the IRS," stating "Congress can and must take action to defuse the tax bomb."
Democratic lawmakers previously urged the Treasury Department to restore the tax-free provision, yet the government continues pursuing collection through wage garnishments and liens as the debt burden shifts to the IRS.