Student loan interest can now be used as a tax deduction on personal income tax returns, thanks to changes made the United States government and the IRS. New student loan interest rates went into affect on August 1, 2005, changing the previous one. This can greatly help students and parents at tax time.
Despite a federal government initiative to encourage higher education over the past few years, with the offer of deferred loans that include much lower rates than regular or private types of loans, and put off pay back until a student has completed their studies, the impact on new and existing loans is the same. Interest builds over time and interest is made on the balance, which will eventually include some of the interest, itself. The result is that despite less worry about finance during the educational period; the final balance is much higher than before, affecting students financial situations and income tax returns.
Initially the government offered a two-pronged opportunity to student loan candidates. The first is subsidized; whereby the government covers the interest until a students education is completed because the students need for financial aid is...