How to Apply for the Student Loan Interest Deduction

Claim a deduction for interest paid on a student loan. A full deduction of $1,500 can save $225, $420 or more in federal income taxes, plus more on state taxes.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Calculators
• Computers
• Tax Preparation Software

Determine Your Eligibility

1. Verify that you are not anyone's dependent.
2. Verify that you are not filing under the "married filing separately" status.
3. Verify that your student loan was not from a relative or from a related trust, partnership or corporation.
4. Make sure that when you got the loan, you were a student taking at least half a full load in a program designed to lead to a degree, certificate or credential.
5. Make sure the interest payment you made during the tax year was within the first 60 months of required payments.
6. Make sure you have the primary responsibility to repay the loan.

Calculate the Deduction

7. Add up all the interest on qualifying student loans that you paid during the tax year. The maximum possible deduction for tax year 1999 is $1,500.
8. Determine your adjusted gross income and compare it to the income thresholds that begin the phase-out of this deduction. If you're married filing jointly, the threshold is $60,000. For single, head of household or qualifying widow or widower, it is $40,000.
9. Calculate how much your income is over the income threshold. Round up to the next thousand dollars - $1,001 is rounded up to $2,000.
10. Subtract $100 from your possible deduction for every $1,000 your income is over the threshold. If your income isn't over the threshold, subtract zero.
11. Claim the deduction on line 24 of the 1040 or line 16 of the 1040A.

Tips & Warnings

• Parents usually cannot take this deduction for their children's student loans even if they pay the interest, unless they are legally responsible for the loan repayment.
• Remember that only the interest you pay during the first five years of loan repayment is eligible for this deduction.
• The student loans don't need to have been used for tuition. Room and board qualifies, as does any ordinary or necessary expense while attending an eligible institution.