Student Loan Interest Deduction - Savings or Scam

For student loan borrowers repaying their college loans, the student loan interest deduction remains one of the easiest tax benefits available to claim. It allows eligible taxpayers to subtract up to $2,500 in interest paid on qualified student loans from their taxable income.

This deduction is known as an "above-the-line" adjustment, which means it can be claimed without itemizing deductions. For young adults and recent graduates who typically take the standard deduction, this offers an additional way to reduce their tax burden.

To qualify, the loan must have been used solely to pay for qualified education expenses for you, your spouse, or a dependent. The deduction phases out at higher incomes.

For 2025, the deduction begins to phase out at a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $85,000 for single filers and is eliminated entirely at $100,000. For joint filers, the phaseout starts at $170,000 and ends at $200,000.