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Student Loan Interest Deduction Calculator

The student loan interest tax deduction sounds like a great thing. You pay down your student loans, and the government gives you a tax break for lowering your debt.


But how much is the student loan interest deduction actually worth to borrowers? While it’s possible to deduct up to $2,500 in student loan interest payments, there are several other rules and limitations (more on this below).

Try out our Student Loan Interest Deduction Calculator below to see how much you could save on your taxes.

Tax Deduction Calculator

What was your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) in 2020? MAGI is a bit complicated to calculate. Your MAGI may be simialr to your AGI, but it's generally not the same. You can use your previous year tax return to calculate your MAGI. However, you deduction will depend on your MAGI in the current tax filing year.

How are you filing your 2020 taxes?

Did someone claim you as a dependent on 2020 taxes?

Were the student loans you made payments on in 2020 disbursed in your name?

What was your spouse's MAGI in 2020? MAGI is a bit complicated to calculate. Your MAGI may be simialr to your AGI, but it's generally not the same. You can use your previous year tax return to calculate your MAGI. However, you deduction will depend on your MAGI in the current tax filing year.

How much student loan interest did you (and your spouse, if Married Filing Jointly) pay in 2020? If you paid at least $600 in student loan interest, your student loan servicer must issue a 1098-E. This form displays how much interest you paid. If you paid less interest, check your account or contact your student loan servicer to find how much interest you've paid.

What state do you live in?

Student Loan Interest Deduction $1,000
Estimated Federal Tax Refund $220
Estimated State Tax Refund* $50
Lower IDR Payment** $100
Total annual savings in federal and state taxes $270
Total annual savings in federal and state taxes and IDR payments $370

*State income tax assumes single person making $70,000 and married couple making $140,000

** The student loan interest deduction reduces your AGI, which reduces your student loan payment on PAYE, REPAYE, IBR, or ICR

Looks like you may not be eligible!

This could be because your loans are in someone else's name, you're being claimed as a dependent on someone else's taxes, or your income is too high.

Student Loan Interest Deduction Calculator FAQ

How much of my student loan interest is deductible?

Assuming you meet all the requirements to receive the student loan interest tax deduction, you can deduct up to $2,500 in qualifying interest payments within the tax year.

Can student loan interest be deducted in 2020?

Yes, you will be able to deduct qualifying student loan interest payments for the 2020 tax year when you file your tax return in 2021.

Is student loan interest deductible in all cases?

In terms of the types of student loans, both federal and private student loans are eligible for the deduction. You must also meet all other requirements. Contact a finance or accounting professional for advice on your specific situation.

What are the income limits for the student loan interest tax deduction?

The upper limits are a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) of $85,000 for a single tax filer and $170,000 for a joint return. However, the tax benefits begin to be phased out starting at a MAGI of $70,000 for single and $140,000 for joint filers.

Do I have to itemize my deductions to claim the student loan interest tax deduction?

No. The deduction is what’s called an “above-the-line deduction,” so you don’t need to itemize to claim the benefit.

If my tax filing status is “Married filing separately,” can I claim this deduction?

No, you cannot claim this deduction if filing separately from your spouse.

If I’m filing taxes as “Married filing jointly,” can we each claim $2,500?

No. If you’re filing taxes as married filing jointly, you can only deduct up to $2,500 total for both you and your spouse.

Who can claim this deduction?

In addition to the restrictions listed here, there are a few other important conditions to note. You (or someone on your behalf) must’ve paid interest on a qualified student loan (federal or private).

You must be legally obligated to pay this interest (i.e., someone who pays the interest but isn’t legally required to, such as a family member or friend, cannot claim the deduction).

Finally, you can’t be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return to be eligible.

Can I claim this deduction if I’m taking the standard deduction and not itemizing my deductions?

Yes, you can. You do not need to itemize your deductions to claim the student loan interest deduction.

Does refinancing my student loans impact student loan interest deduction eligibility?

It could, but it might not be an issue. Read more on that here.

More on the student loan interest deduction

For more information on the student loan interest deduction, check out these articles from the Student Loan Planner® blog:

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Lender and Bonus disclosure

All rates listed represent APR range. Commonbond: If you refinance over $100,000 through this site, $500 of the cash bonus listed above is provided directly by Student Loan Planner. 

CommonBond Disclosures: Refinancing

Offered terms are subject to change and state law restriction. Loans are offered by CommonBond Lending, LLC (NMLS # 1175900), NMLS Consumer Access. If you are approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your credit profile, your application, the loan term selected and will be within the ranges of rates shown.  If you choose to complete an application, we will conduct a hard credit pull, which may affect your credit score. All Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed assume borrowers enroll in auto pay and account for the 0.25% reduction in interest rate. All variable rates are based on a 1-month LIBOR assumption of 0.15% effective Jan 1, 2021 and may increase after consummation.

CommonBond Disclosures: Private, In-School Loans

Offered terms are subject to change and state law restriction. Loans are offered by CommonBond Lending, LLC (NMLS # 1175900), NMLS Consumer Access. If you are approved for a loan, the interest rate offered will depend on your credit profile, your application, the loan term selected and will be within the ranges of rates shown.  If you choose to complete an application, we will conduct a hard credit pull, which may affect your credit score. All Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) displayed assume borrowers enroll in auto pay and account for the 0.25% reduction in interest rate. All variable rates are based on a 1-month LIBOR assumption of 0.15% effective Jan 1, 2021 and may increase after consummation.

Student Loan Planner® Disclosures

Upon disbursement of a qualifying loan, the borrower must notify Student Loan Planner® that a qualifying loan was refinanced through the site, as the lender does not share the names or contact information of borrowers. Borrowers must contact Student Loan Planner® by email at help [at] studentloanplanner.com to claim bonus offer. Student Loan Planner® will confirm loan eligibility and, upon confirmation, will send via email a $500 e-gift card within seven business days following the last day of the month in which the qualifying loan was disbursed and confirmed eligible by Student Loan Planner®. If a borrower does not claim the Student Loan Planner® bonus within six months of a loan disbursement, the borrower forfeits their right to claim said bonus. The bonus amount will depend on the total loan amount disbursed. This offer is not valid for borrowers who have previously received a bonus from Student Loan Planner®.

Lender and Bonus disclosure

Earnest: $1,000 for $100K or more, $200 for $50K to $99.999.99. For Earnest, if you refinance $100,000 or more through this site, $500 of the $1,000 cash bonus is provided directly by Student Loan Planner. Rate range above includes optional 0.25% Auto Pay discount. 

Earnest Bonus Offer Disclosure:

Terms and conditions apply. To qualify for this Earnest Bonus offer: 1) you must not currently be an Earnest client, or have received the bonus in the past, 2) you must submit a completed student loan refinancing application through the designated Student Loan Planner® link; 3) you must provide a valid email address and a valid checking account number during the application process; and 4) your loan must be fully disbursed.

You will receive a $1,000 bonus if you refinance $100,000 or more, or a $200 bonus if you refinance an amount from $50,000 to $99,999.99. For the $1,000 Welcome Bonus offer, $500 will be paid directly by Student Loan Planner® via Giftly. Earnest will automatically transmit $500 to your checking account after the final disbursement. For the $200 Welcome Bonus offer, Earnest will automatically transmit the $200 bonus to your checking account after the final disbursement. There is a limit of one bonus per borrower. This offer is not valid for current Earnest clients who refinance their existing Earnest loans, clients who have previously received a bonus, or with any other bonus offers received from Earnest via this or any other channel. Bonus cannot be issued to residents in KY, MA, or MI.

Interest Rate Disclosure

Actual rate and available repayment terms will vary based on your income. Fixed rates range from 2.59% APR to 5.79% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). Variable rates range from 1.88% APR to 5.64% APR (excludes 0.25% Auto Pay discount). For variable rate loans, although the interest rate will vary after you are approved, the interest rate will never exceed 36% (the maximum allowable for these loans). Earnest variable interest rate student loan refinance loans are based on a publicly available index, the one month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). Your rate will be calculated each month by adding a margin between 2.04% and 5.8% to the one month LIBOR. Earnest rate ranges are current as of 6/8/2021, and are subject to change based on market conditions.

Auto Pay Discount Disclosure

You can take advantage of the Auto Pay interest rate reduction by setting up and maintaining active and automatic ACH withdrawal of your loan payment. The interest rate reduction for Auto Pay will be available only while your loan is enrolled in Auto Pay. Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. For multi-party loans, only one party may enroll in Auto Pay.

Skip a Payment Disclosure

Earnest clients may skip one payment every 12 months. Your first request to skip a payment can be made once you’ve made at least 6 months of consecutive on-time payments, and your loan is in good standing. The interest accrued during the skipped month will result in an increase in your remaining minimum payment. The final payoff date on your loan will be extended by the length of the skipped payment periods. Please be aware that a skipped payment does count toward the forbearance limits. Please note that skipping a payment is not guaranteed and is at Earnest’s discretion. Your monthly payment and total loan cost may increase as a result of postponing your payment and extending your term.

Student Loan Refinancing Loan Cost Examples

These examples provide estimates based on payments beginning immediately upon loan disbursement. Variable APR: A $10,000 loan with a 20-year term (240 monthly payments of $72) and a 5.89% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $17,042.39. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed APR: A $10,000 loan with a 20-year term (240 monthly payments of $72) and a 6.04% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $17,249.77. Your actual repayment terms may vary.Terms and Conditions apply. Visit https://www.earnest. com/terms-of-service, e-mail us at [email protected], or call 888-601-2801 for more information on our student loan refinance product.

Student Loan Origination Loan Cost Examples

These examples provide estimates based on the Deferred Repayment option, meaning you make no payments while enrolled in school and during the separation period of 9 billing periods thereafter. Variable APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $157.12) and an 11.69% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $21,290.40. For a variable loan, after your starting rate is set, your rate will then vary with the market. Fixed APR: A $10,000 loan with a 15-year term (180 monthly payments of $173.51) and an 13.03% APR would result in a total estimated payment amount of $22,827.79. Your actual repayment terms may vary.

Earnest Loans are made by Earnest Operations LLC or One American Bank, Member FDIC. Earnest Operations LLC, NMLS #1204917. 535 Mission St., Suite 1663, San Francisco, CA 94105. California Financing Law License 6054788. Visit earnest.com/licenses for a full list of licensed states. For California residents (Student Loan Refinance Only): Loans will be arranged or made pursuant to a California Financing Law License.

One American Bank, 515 S. Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. Earnest loans are serviced by Earnest Operations LLC with support from Navient Solutions LLC (NMLS #212430). One American Bank and Earnest LLC and its subsidiaries are not sponsored by or agencies of the United States of America.

© 2021 Earnest LLC. All rights reserved.

Student Loan Planner® Bonus Disclosure:

Upon disbursement of a qualifying loan, the borrower must notify Student Loan Planner® that a qualifying loan was refinanced through the site, as the lender does not share the names or contact information of borrowers. Borrowers must contact Student Loan Planner® by email at help [at] studentloanplanner.com to claim bonus offer. Student Loan Planner® will confirm loan eligibility and, upon confirmation, will send via email a $500 e-gift card within seven business days following the last day of the month in which the qualifying loan was disbursed and confirmed eligible by Student Loan Planner®. If a borrower does not claim the Student Loan Planner® bonus within six months of a loan disbursement, the borrower forfeits their right to claim said bonus. The bonus amount will depend on the total loan amount disbursed. This offer is not valid for borrowers who have previously received a bonus from Student Loan Planner®.

Lender and Bonus disclosure

Laurel Road: If you refinance more than $250,000 through our link and Student Loan Planner receives credit, a $500 cash bonus will be provided directly by Student Loan Planner. If you are a member of a professional association, Laurel Road might offer you the choice of an interest rate discount or the $300, $500, or $750 cash bonus mentioned above. Offers from Laurel Road cannot be combined. Rate range above includes optional 0.25% Auto Pay discount. 

Laurel Road Bonus Offer Disclosure:

Terms and conditions apply. To qualify for this Laurel Road Welcome Bonus offer: 1) you must not currently be an Laurel Road client, or have received the bonus in the past, 2) you must submit a completed student loan refinancing application through the designated Student Loan Planner® link; 3) you must provide a valid email address and a valid checking account number during the application process; and 4) your loan must be fully disbursed. If a borrower is eligible for and chooses to accept an interest rate promotional offer due to that borrower’s membership in a professional association, the borrower will not be eligible for the cash bonus from Laurel Road. However, the borrower can still be eligible for the Student Loan Planner® bonus if they qualify under the “Student Loan Planner® Bonus Disclosure terms below.”  If you opt to receive the cash bonus incentive offer, you will receive a $1,050 bonus if you refinance $100,000 or more, or a $300 bonus if you refinance an amount from $50,000 to $99,999.99. For the $1,050 Welcome Bonus offer, $500 will be paid directly by Student Loan Planner® via Giftly. Laurel Road will automatically transmit $550 to your checking account after the final disbursement. For the $300 Welcome Bonus offer, Laurel Road will automatically transmit the $300 bonus to your checking account after the final disbursement.  There is a limit of one bonus per borrower. This offer is not valid for current Laurel Road clients who refinance their existing Laurel Road loans, clients who have previously received a bonus, or with any other bonus offers received from Laurel Road via this or any other channel.

You can take advantage of the Auto Pay interest rate reduction by setting up and maintaining active and automatic ACH withdrawal of your loan payment. The interest rate reduction for Auto Pay will be available only while your loan is enrolled in Auto Pay. Interest rate incentives for utilizing Auto Pay may not be combined with certain private student loan repayment programs that also offer an interest rate reduction. For multi-party loans, only one party may enroll in Auto Pay

Student Loan Planner® Bonus Disclosure

Upon disbursement of a qualifying loan, the borrower must notify Student Loan Planner® that a qualifying loan was refinanced through the site, as the lender does not share the names or contact information of borrowers. Borrowers must contact Student Loan Planner® by email at help [at] studentloanplanner.com to claim bonus offer. Student Loan Planner® will confirm loan eligibility and, upon confirmation, will send via email a $500 e-gift card within seven business days following the last day of the month in which the qualifying loan was disbursed and confirmed eligible by Student Loan Planner®. If a borrower does not claim the Student Loan Planner® bonus within six months of a loan disbursement, the borrower forfeits their right to claim said bonus. The bonus amount will depend on the total loan amount disbursed. This offer is not valid for borrowers who have previously received a bonus from Student Loan Planner®.

Lender and Bonus disclosure

Elfi: If you refinance over $150,000 through this site, $500 of the cash bonus listed above is provided directly by Student Loan Planner. 

To begin the qualification process for the Student Loan Planner® sign on bonus, customers must apply from the link provided on https://www.elfi.com/student-loan-planner. Customers who are approved for and close a loan will receive the $300-$775 bonus through a reduction in the principal balance of their Education Loan Finance loan when your loan has been disbursed. The amount of the bonus will depend on the total loan amount disbursed. In order to receive this bonus, customers will be required to complete and submit a W9 form with all required documents. Taxes are the sole responsibility of the recipient. There is a limit of one bonus per borrower. This offer is not valid for current ELFI customers who refinance their existing ELFI loans, customers who have previously received a bonus, or with any other bonus offers received from ELFI via this or any other channel. If the applicant was referred using the referral bonus, they will not receive the bonus provided via the referring party. If the applicant becomes an ELFI customer, they may participate in the referral bonus by becoming the referring party. Additional terms and conditions apply.

For the $1,275 bonus associated with refinancing at least $150,000, $500 of the bonus is provided by Student Loan Planner® via Giftly, which can be redeemed as a deposit to your bank account or PayPal account. Upon disbursement of a qualifying loan, the borrower must notify Student Loan Planner® that a qualifying loan was refinanced through the site, as the lender does not share the names or contact information of borrowers. Borrowers must contact Student Loan Planner® by email at help [at] studentloanplanner.com to claim bonus offer. Student Loan Planner® will confirm loan eligibility and, upon confirmation, will send via email a $500 e-gift card within seven business days following the last day of the month in which the qualifying loan was disbursed and confirmed eligible by Student Loan Planner®. If a borrower does not claim the Student Loan Planner® bonus within six months of a loan disbursement, the borrower forfeits their right to claim said bonus. The bonus amount will depend on the total loan amount disbursed. This offer is not valid for borrowers who have previously received a bonus from Student Loan Planner®.

Lender and Bonus disclosure

Splash: If you refinance over $100,000 through this site, $500 of the cash bonus listed above is provided directly by Student Loan Planner. 

To begin the qualification process for the Student Loan Planner® sign on bonus, customers must apply from the link provided. Customers who are approved for and close a loan will receive the $300-$500 bonus through Splash Financial. The amount of the bonus will depend on the total loan amount disbursed. There is a limit of one bonus per borrower. This offer is not valid for current Splash customers who refinance their existing Splash loans, customers who have previously received a bonus, or with any other bonus offers received from Splash via this or any other channel. If the applicant was referred using the referral bonus, they will not receive the bonus provided via the referring party. Additional terms and conditions apply.

For the $1,000 bonus associated with refinancing at least $100,000, $500 of the bonus is provided by Student Loan Planner® via Giftly, which can be redeemed as a deposit to your bank account or PayPal account. Upon disbursement of a qualifying loan, the borrower must notify Student Loan Planner® that a qualifying loan was refinanced through the site, as the lender does not share the names or contact information of borrowers. Borrowers must contact Student Loan Planner® by email at help [at] studentloanplanner.com to claim bonus offer. Student Loan Planner® will confirm loan eligibility and, upon confirmation, will send via email a $500 e-gift card within seven business days following the last day of the month in which the qualifying loan was disbursed and confirmed eligible by Student Loan Planner®. If a borrower does not claim the Student Loan Planner® bonus within six months of a loan disbursement, the borrower forfeits their right to claim said bonus. The bonus amount will depend on the total loan amount disbursed. This offer is not valid for borrowers who have previously received a bonus from Student Loan Planner®.

Lender and Bonus disclosure

Sofi: If you refinance $100,000 or more through this site, $500 of the $1,000 cash bonus is provided directly by Student Loan Planner. Rate Fixed rates from 2.74% APR to 6.74% APR (with autopay). Variable rates from 2.25% APR to 6.39% APR (with autopay). All variable rates are based on the 1-month LIBOR and may increase after consummation if LIBOR increases; see more at SoFi.com/legal/#1. If approved for a loan your rate will depend on a variety of factors such as your credit profile, your application and your selected loan terms. Your rate will be within the ranges of rates listed above. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers, or may become available, such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp. or an affiliate (dba SoFi), a lender licensed by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation under the California Financing Law, license #6054612; NMLS #1121636 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). Additional terms and conditions apply; see SoFi.com/eligibility for details. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE.

Rate Match Guarantee Disclosure

Get $100 when you fund a Student Loan Refinance offered by SoFi Lending Corp. or an affiliate. $100 bonus not available to residents of OH. Rate Match valid only for private student loan refi products & will be on the rate, exclusive of all discounts. Eligible documentation of a competitor’s current rate offer, issued within 30 days of your SoFi pre-qualified rate, will be determined at SoFi’s sole discretion and must be for the same loan amount and repayment terms. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. Void where prohibited by state law. See full terms & conditions at sofi.com/refinance-student-loan/#guaranteed-rate-match. SoFi reserves the right to modify or discontinue at any time without notice. Additional terms & conditions apply; see SoFi.com/eligibility. CFL#6054612, NMLS#1121636 (nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

Student Loan Planner® Bonus Disclosure

For which may be offered in the future directly by Student Loan Planner®, our company will send you bonuses via Giftly, which can also be redeemed as a deposit to your bank account or PayPal account. Upon disbursement of a qualifying loan, Student Loan Planner® will send via email a gift card within 7 business days of the last day of the month in which the qualifying loan was disbursed.

For Student Loan Planner® to send the gift card, the borrower must notify Student Loan Planner® that a qualifying loan was refinanced through the site, as student loan refinancing companies do not share the names of borrower applicants. A borrower may contact Student Loan Planner® to redeem a gift card under this program via email only, via help AT studentloanplanner DOT com, or any other studentloanplanner DOT com email that the borrower may be aware of. If a borrower does not claim a gift card within 6 months of a loan disbursement, the borrower forfeits their right to claim said gift card.

The amount of the bonus will depend on the total loan amount disbursed. A customer will only be eligible to receive the bonus one time.range above includes optional 0.25% Auto Pay discount.

Lender and Bonus disclosure

Credible: If you refinance over $100,000 through this site, $500 of the cash bonus listed above is provided directly by Student Loan Planner. 

To begin the qualification process for the Student Loan Planner® sign on bonus, customers must apply from the link provided on www.credible.com.

The amount of the bonus will depend on the total loan amount disbursed. In order to receive this bonus, customers will be required to complete and submit a W9 form with all required documents. Taxes are the sole responsibility of the recipient. A customer will only be eligible to receive the bonus one time. New applicants are eligible for only one bonus. Additional terms and conditions apply.

For the $1,250 bonus associated with refinancing at least $100,000, $500 of the bonus is provided by Student Loan Planner® via Giftly, which can be redeemed as a deposit to your bank account or PayPal account. Upon disbursement of a qualifying loan, the borrower must notify Student Loan Planner® that a qualifying loan was refinanced through the site, as the lender does not share the names or contact information of borrowers. Borrowers must contact Student Loan Planner® by email at help [at] studentloanplanner.com to claim bonus offer. Student Loan Planner® will confirm loan eligibility and, upon confirmation, will send via email a $500 e-gift card within seven business days following the last day of the month in which the qualifying loan was disbursed and confirmed eligible by Student Loan Planner®. If a borrower does not claim the Student Loan Planner® bonus within six months of a loan disbursement, the borrower forfeits their right to claim said bonus. The bonus amount will depend on the total loan amount disbursed. This offer is not valid for borrowers who have previously received a bonus from Student Loan Planner®.

Student Loan Planner must be credited for a qualifying loan by Credible for the customer to receive the Student Loan Planner® bonus. If a customer contacts Student Loan Planner® after a loan disburses instead of before, we have no way of guaranteeing a loan being credited properly. Customers are encouraged to contact Student Loan Planner® before a loan disburses to aid in the verification of this bonus program.

Lender and Bonus disclosure

LendKey: If you refinance over $150,000 through this site, $500 of the cash bonus listed above is provided directly by Student Loan Planner. Rate range above includes optional 0.25% Auto Pay discount.