The Senate version of the $ 1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, which cleared the House on Saturday, was amended to eliminate forgiven student loan debt taxes until 2025, Wall Street reports Journal.
Why it’s important: The provision, which was included by Democrats this week, paves the way for President Biden to forgive student debt through executive action – one of his campaign promises – without charging thousands of Americans a new tax.
- Federal law usually treats forgiven debt as taxable income. Biden’s commitment to forgive up to $ 10,000 in debt per person would have increased “the tax bills of many households by a greater amount than the monthly payments they would have paid for that year’s debt,” explains Adam Looney, a former newspaper. Obama administration official. .
Where is it: The House is now expected to pass the bill for President Biden to sign into law.
- The government will lose $ 44 million in revenue due to the provision, WSJ writes, citing the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.
Details: All federal student loans are eligible, including state education loans, institutional loans, private student loans, and private parent loans.