Student Loan Interest Deduction: Filing Separately vs. Jointly

• Filing separately disqualifies you from claiming the student loan interest tax deduction and other valuable tax credits, increasing your tax liability.

• Losing these deductions can lead to higher taxable income, reduced disposable income, and a longer loan repayment period, increasing your overall financial burden.

• Use a tax calculator or consult a CPA to calculate the financial outcomes of both filing statuses and explore other strategies to reduce your tax liability.

Filing separately means you lose access to several important tax credits and deductions on your tax return, which can increase your tax liability and affect your financial health in the long term, especially if you have federal student loans. This choice can also affect your eligibility for income-based repayment plans.

Additionally, you’ll need to carefully calculate and compare the financial outcomes of both filing statuses to determine which is more beneficial for your situation.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Lost Tax Credits and Deductions: Filing MFS disqualifies you from several benefits, including the student loan interest deduction, dependent childcare credit, earned income credit, adoption credit, and education credits.

• Long-Term Financial Implications: Losing these deductions and credits can lead to higher taxable income and tax liability, reduced disposable income, and increased time to repay student loans.

• Practical Steps and Strategies: Calculate and compare the financial outcomes of MFS vs. MFJ using tax software or a CPA, adjust income through retirement contributions, and time payments to maximize other deductions and credits.

Related: Biden Student Loan Forgiveness

Filing your tax return as Married Filing Separately disqualifies you from claiming the student loan interest deduction for your federal student loans.

This deduction, which can reduce your taxable income by up to $2,500, is only available to taxpayers who file as single, head of household, or married filing jointly.

By choosing the MFS tax filing status, you forfeit this deduction, which can affect your overall tax liability and income-based repayment plans.

Note: The student loan interest deduction is available for any private or federal loan taken out to pay qualified higher education expenses.

The maximum amount married borrowers can deduct for student loan interest is $2,500 per tax year, which can provide significant relief for taxpayers with student loan debt.

This deduction is available if you file jointly and your modified adjusted gross income falls within the eligible range. However, the deduction is subject to a phaseout, so the amount you can deduct gradually decreases as your income increases. The phaseout range for joint filers is between $140,000 and $170,000 of MAGI.

If your MAGI is below $140,000, you can claim the full deduction of up to $2,500. You can only claim a reduced deduction if your MAGI falls within the phaseout range. Once your MAGI reaches $170,000, you cannot claim the deduction.

If you file separately, you cannot claim this deduction, regardless of your income level or the amount of interest paid on your education loans.

Related: What Happens to Student Loans When You Get Married?

What are MAGI and AGI?

MAGI and AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) are measures of income used by the IRS for different tax purposes. AGI is total income minus certain deductions, while MAGI adds back some of those deductions.

The IRS uses AGI to determine tax brackets and eligibility for most deductions and credits. MAGI is used for specific purposes like determining eligibility for Roth IRA contributions and income-based Medicaid.

Related: Am I Responsible For My Spouse’s Student Loan Debt?

Yes, there are income thresholds that affect eligibility for married couples.

For joint filers, the student loan interest deduction phases out for modified adjusted gross incomes (MAGI) between $140,000 and $170,000.

If your joint income exceeds $170,000, you cannot claim the deduction on your income tax return.

However, if you file separately, you are not eligible for the deduction at any income level.

Filing jointly lets you claim the student loan interest deduction for the tax year, reducing your taxable income by up to $2,500.

If you are in the 22% income tax bracket, this can save you up to $550 in taxes for that year.

However, if you file separately, you lose this deduction and the associated income tax savings, which could otherwise help offset the cost of your student loan repayment.

If you choose to file separately and cannot claim the student loan interest deduction, consider these strategies to manage your overall tax liability and optimize your financial situation:

• Maximize Retirement Contributions: Contribute to retirement accounts like 401(k) and IRA to lower your taxable income. For example, if you contribute $5,000 to your 401(k), you reduce your taxable income by that amount.

• Adjust Timing of Payments: Time your student loan payments to align with other tax benefits you may qualify for. For example, making payments in a year where you expect higher deductions can help offset your tax liability.

• Explore Other Deductions: Look into other deductions and credits you are eligible for, such as education-related expenses, medical expenses, or charitable contributions. These can help reduce your taxable income and overall tax burden.

Losing the student loan interest deduction by filing separately means higher taxable income, leading to higher tax bills. This reduces your disposable income, potentially making saving or paying off other debts harder.

Additionally, the extra tax burden can extend the time to repay your student loans, increasing the overall cost of your loans due to interest accrual.

Carefully consider these long-term financial impacts when deciding whether to file separately.

Example 1: High-Income Disparity

Imagine a couple where one spouse earns $150,000 per year, and the other earns $40,000 and has a lot of student loans. If they file jointly, they could claim the student loan interest deduction.

This would reduce their taxable income by up to $2,500.

But, it would also mean their combined income would be considered for income-driven repayment plans, like the new SAVE Plan, IBR, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), or Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR).

This could lead to higher monthly loan payments based on their discretionary income.

Impact of Filing Separately:

• Loss of Deduction: The couple loses the $2,500 student loan interest deduction. This increases their taxable income.

• Lower Loan Payments: Filing separately lowers the income considered for IDR plans. This can significantly lower the monthly student loan payments. For example, instead of paying $800 per month based on their combined income, the payment might drop to $200 based on the lower-income spouse’s earnings alone.

Long-Term Considerations:

• Short-Term Savings: The immediate savings from lower loan payments can provide financial relief.

• Higher Tax Liability: The higher taxable income due to losing the deduction results in a higher tax bill, which needs to be weighed against the lower monthly loan payments.

• Extended Loan Repayment: The lower monthly payments could extend the repayment period, potentially increasing the total interest paid over time.

Related: How Spousal Income Affects Student Loan Payments

Example 2: Equal Incomes

Imagine a couple where both spouses earn about $60,000 per year, and each has student loans. By filing jointly, they can claim the student loan interest deduction, reducing their combined taxable income by up to $2,500.

Impact of Filing Jointly:

• Claiming the Deduction: The couple can claim the $2,500 student loan interest deduction, lowering their taxable income and saving on their tax bill. For example, in the 22% tax bracket, this could result in a tax saving of $550.

• Moderate Loan Payments: Since their incomes are similar, their combined income considered for income-driven repayment plans does not significantly increase their monthly loan payments. For example, their monthly payment might be $400 when filing jointly, compared to $350 if they filed separately.

Long-Term Considerations:

• Tax Savings: The tax savings from the deduction can help offset the slightly higher loan payments, making it financially beneficial overall.

• Simplified Tax Filing: Filing jointly often simplifies the tax process and may qualify them for other joint tax benefits and credits.

• Balanced Repayment Period: The slightly higher loan payments ensure they are repaying their loans in a reasonable timeframe, potentially reducing the total interest paid over the life of the loan.

Deciding whether to file as Married Filing Separately or Jointly can significantly affect your student loan interest deduction and overall financial health.

Consider the lost tax benefits, long-term financial implications, and practical strategies outlined in this guide.

For personalized advice tailored to your unique situation, speak with one of our student loan experts to make the best decision for your financial future.