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How much debt could be forgiven?

word DEBT written in chalk on a blackboard being rubbed out by an eraser
focal point / Shutterstock

Americans currently hold more than $1.7 trillion in student debt, according to the Federal Reserve. Yet the pause on payments and interest is scheduled to end in February, even as COVID-19 cases pile up across the country.

Biden has already said he supports legislation that would “immediately” forgive $10,000 in federal student debt per person.

Borrowers are in “real trouble,” Biden said during a November news conference. “They’re having to make choices between paying their student loans and paying their rent, those kinds of decisions.”

But is $10,000 enough? A group of prominent Democrats, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, say no.

They want the Biden administration to cancel up to $50,000 in debt as a form of economic stimulus, allowing people to start buying homes and investing for retirement.

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What will actually happen?

Washington DC Capitol with waving flag on cloudy day
Andrea Izzotti / Shutterstock

On top of that immediate aid, several other measures are in the works to reduce Americans’ student debt, including improvements to the government’s income-based repayment program and Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

The big problem, of course, is that all of these measures would be extremely expensive. Biden may fail to pass them if Republicans control the Senate after two Georgia runoffs in January.

Some backers argue the incoming president can use an executive order to cancel debt under the 1965 Higher Education Act, but that could lead to the first major legal battle for the new administration.

Biden could also try to pass a watered-down, bilateral solution. A new deal may only target borrowers who are in serious economic distress — and it may not be tax free.

Tax bomb incoming?

Explosion
Cpl. Timothy R. Childers/U.S. Marine Corps

Normally, you need to pay income taxes on the balance of canceled debt, as if you “earned” it in cash. That means Americans benefiting from tens of thousands in loan forgiveness could face an enormous bill at tax time.

Goldman Sachs suggests that borrowers may be on the hook for as much as 20% of the amount forgiven, Forbes reports.

In his platform, Biden vowed to amend the tax code to make forgiveness through the income-based repayment program tax free, saying “Americans shouldn’t have to take out a loan to pay their taxes when they finally are free from their student loans.”

While Schumer is calling for those amendments to extend to all student loan forgiveness, you’ll definitely want to start saving up, just in case. If you can’t afford your tax bill right away, the IRS will begin charging you interest and fees.

Kiss your credit card debt goodbye

Millions of Americans are struggling to crawl out of debt in the face of record-high interest rates. A personal loan offers lower interest rates and fixed payments, making it a smart choice to consolidate high-interest credit card debt. It helps save money, simplifies payments, and accelerates debt payoff. Credible is a free online service that shows you the best lending options to pay off your credit card debt fast — and save a ton in interest.

Explore better rates

What are your other options?

Close up portrait of a young african american woman looking out window when working on laptop
mimagephotography / Shutterstock

It’s crucial to recognize that these forgiveness proposals only apply to federal student loans, not the private loans obtained from banks and other nongovernment lenders.

So if you have a private loan — or if you don’t think Biden and his supporters will get their way — you’ll have to pursue other options.

Fortunately for you, interest rates on private student loans have dropped big-time during the pandemic. Borrowers with either federal or private loans should consider refinancing — that is, trading your old loan for a new one at a much lower interest rate.

It’s true that switching from a federal student loan to a private one would make you ineligible for any government relief in the coming months. That could be a tough call to make.

However, there's no downside if you already have a private loan. Refinancing now while rates are cheap could significantly reduce your monthly payment, saving you thousands and allowing you to pay off the balance years sooner.

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Ethan Rotberg Former Reporter

Ethan Rotberg was formerly a staff reporter at MoneyWise. His background includes nearly 15 years as a writer, editor, designer and communications professional. He loves storytelling, from feature writing to narrative podcasts. His work has appeared in the Toronto Star, CPA Canada and Metro, among others.

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