Overview
For student loan borrowers, the new Student Debt Relief Program announced by President Biden is an excellent opportunity to reduce their debt. There is a growing need for better tax planning advice from tax practitioners since the IRS and Department of Education are automating this information process starting in mid-2023. This automation will impact both FAFSA and the Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) methods. IDR usage has increased by 75% since 2016 and is also required to be used for many of the loan forgiveness programs.
According to a recent survey, the new Student Loan Assistance Benefit is ranked as the third most demanded benefit for employees under age 35. With the new tax-free student loan reimbursement and in anticipation of SECURE 2.0, employers will be seeking advice on properly implementing these unique employee benefits. This program will cover the impact on both the employee and the employer. We will also explain why this benefit needs to look at the household income and the need for tax filing advice.
Student loan repayment and forgiveness will impact a large segment of the population. It is estimated that 70% of the educated workforce will have student loans. Employers and employees will soon be looking for expert advice on both its general and tax implications. Don’t miss this opportunity to serve as a critical resource for friends, family, and clients and enhance your bottom line in the process.
Major Topics:
- The four parts of the Student Debt Relief Plan
- The importance of year-end tax advice, especially for 2022, due to the 1/1/2023 repayment restart and the income certification requirement
- Action plans for each student debt relief process
- Automation of IRS data into the various Department of Education systems
- Changes in student loan repayment trends directly related to personal tax planning and benefit decisions
- Increased opportunity for tax practitioners due to the limited advice from student loan servicers and college financial aid offices
- Implementation items for tax-free student loan reimbursement for employees and employers
- Loan forgiveness opportunities for employers that are 501(c)3 entities and government agencies
- Impact of student loan assistance benefits on company retention and recruitment
- Importance of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) limited waiver expiration
- FAFSA simplification impact and need for better tax planning in college funding
- Increased college cost due to FAFSA simplification calculation changes
- Increased use of IDR and the need for better tax planning and benefit selection
- Benefits of proper student debt structure for repayment, forgiveness, and parent liability
- Employer implementation planning for student loan assistance benefit
- Importance of plan data source for student loan assistance compliance
- Internal and external audit decisions for student loan assistance compliance
Learning Objectives
- Be familiar with student loan repayment and forgiveness rules
- Understand the increased need for better tax advice in student loan repayment and college funding
- Be knowledgeable of student loan assistance benefits
Designed for:
Accounting and finance professionals and benefit consultants who need to better understand this new legislation
Prerequisite:
None
Advanced Preparation:
None