A deduction of up to $2,500 is allowed for interest paid by the taxpayer during the year on qualified student loans. Deductible interest includes voluntary payments made during a period when interest payments are not yet required, interest on refinanced and consolidated loans, and capitalized interest.
Summary of the Student Loan Interest Deduction
| Feature | Description |
| Maximum benefit | $2,500. |
| Loan qualifications | The student loan: (a) must have been taken out solely to pay qualified education expenses, and (b) cannot be from a related person or made under a qualified employer plan. |
| Student qualifications | The student must be: (a) the primary taxpayer, spouse, or dependent, and (b) enrolled at least half-time in a degree program |
| Time limit on deduction | The interest paid can be deducted during the remaining period of the student loan. |
| MAGI phaseout |
MFJ: Over $155,000 but less than $185,000. |
| MAGI limit | MFJ: $185,000 All others: $90,000 |
The taxpayer can take the student loan interest deduction only if all of the following apply:
- They paid interest on a qualified student loan.
- Their filing status is not married filing separately.
- Their MAGI is less than $90,000 if filing single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er), and less than $185,000 if married filing jointly.
- They, or their spouse if filing jointly, are not claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return.
The amount of the deduction is affected by the taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). For the purpose of calculating the student loan interest deduction, MAGI is calculated by taking the AGI and adding back the following items:
- Any student loan interest deduction already included on Schedule 1
- The foreign earned income exclusion
- The foreign housing exclusion
- The foreign housing deduction
- Income excluded by bona fide residents of American Samoa (calculated on Form 4563)
- Income excluded from Puerto Rico
A related person includes:
- A spouse
- Siblings, i.e., brother, sister, half brother, and half sister
- Ancestors, i.e., parents and grandparents
- Lineal descendants, i.e., children and grandchildren
- Certain corporations, partnerships, trusts, and exempt organizations.
(See IRC section 267(b) for more information.)
Generally, an institution (such as a bank or governmental agency) that received interest payments of $600 or more on one or more qualified student loans will send a student loan interest statement to the borrower using either IRS Form 1098-E or an equivalent.
To enter student loan interest in TaxSlayer ProWeb, from the Federal Section of the tax return (Form 1040) select:
- Deductions
- Adjustments
- Student Loan Interest
- Total interest paid on qualified student loans - Enter the amount of interest. If the taxpayer has multiple Forms 1098-E, add the interest and enter the total.
Note: This is a brief guide on the student loan interest deduction and including it in a return prepared in TaxSlayer ProWeb. This is not intended as tax advice.
Additional Information: