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Some federal student loan forgiveness subject to state, county income tax

Federal student loan repayments are restarting this month, and some borrowers may be eligible for loan relief or forgiveness. Borrowers whose loans are forgiven should be aware that Indiana  taxes some of those balances as income.

Some Indiana borrowers could see up to thousands of dollars added to their state income tax if they’re eligible for student loan forgiveness. The exact amount depends on the type of loan forgiveness, the county you live in and the remaining balance of any partially forgiven loans.

The Internal Revenue Service does not tax most types of student loan forgiveness, and that practice was  expanded when the American Rescue Plan Act was passed in 2021.

That same year, Indiana lawmakers passed a  provision that requires certain Indiana borrowers to pay adjusted gross income tax on the balance of federally forgiven loans between 2021 and 2025.

READ MORE: What do Hoosiers need to know about Indiana’s taxation of student loan forgiveness?

Borrowers will not have to pay state taxes on loans forgiven due to total and permanent disability, or certain types of repayment plans. For more information, the  Indiana Department of Revenue recommends reaching out to your student loan servicer.

Kirsten is our education reporter. Contact her at  kadair@wfyi.org  or follow her on Twitter at  @kirsten_adair .

Kirsten Adair grew up in Greentown, Indiana and graduated from Butler University's College of Communication with a degree in journalism. Before coming to IPB News, Adair was a news reporter at The Kokomo Perspective and Logansport Pharos-Tribune in north-central Indiana. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, reading, and cuddling with her two cats.