Student Loan News Today – Daily Updates (January 2026)

January 31, 2026 —

Federal student loan status:
No new U.S. government action issued today.

Deadline Today (Tax Forms)
Today is the IRS deadline for federal loan servicers to furnish Form 1098-E (Student Loan Interest Statement) for the prior tax year.
If you paid $600 or more in student loan interest, download the form from your loan servicer’s portal.

January 30, 2026 —

Tax Bomb Status No new IRS guidance issued today.

• Federal tax treatment remains governed by existing law: the ARPA tax exclusion for most student loan discharges expired December 31, 2025. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) remains tax-free under IRC Section 108(f).
• New Repayment & Borrowing Proposals The Department of Education issued a major Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) today.
• The proposal outlines the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), seeks to eliminate the Grad PLUS program, and proposes capping annual graduate federal loans at $20,500.
• Default & Rehabilitation Update The proposed rule includes a “second chance” policy allowing borrowers two opportunities to rehabilitate a defaulted loan (previously limited to one).
• Collections Status Involuntary collections remain paused under the January 16 administrative stay.
• No new enforcement actions regarding wage garnishment or Treasury offsets were initiated today.
• Recertify Now No new StudentAid.gov guidance issued today regarding recertification.
• Annual IDR recertification requirements remain unchanged.
• Do today Log in to StudentAid.gov to review how the new proposed loan caps and RAP plan may impact your repayment strategy.
• If you are in default, monitor for the official start date of the expanded rehabilitation options.

January 29, 2026 —

Tax Bomb Status

• No new IRS guidance or statutory changes were issued today.
• Federal tax treatment remains governed by existing law: the ARPA tax exclusion for most student loan discharges expired December 31, 2025, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness remains tax-free under IRC Section 108(f).
• SAVE Interest Warning
• No new Federal Student Aid updates were issued today.
• Interest accrual rules under SAVE-related administrative forbearance remain unchanged.
• Collections Status
• No new Department of Education announcements were issued today.
• Collections policy remains as stated in the last official federal update.
• Recertify Now
• No new StudentAid.gov guidance was issued today.
• Annual IDR recertification requirements remain unchanged.
• Do today
• Log in to StudentAid.gov to monitor your loan status and check for any newly posted federal announcements.
• If no new notices appear, no action is required beyond account monitoring.

January 28, 2026 —

Tax Bomb Status

• No new IRS guidance or statutory changes were issued today.
• Federal tax treatment remains governed by existing law: the ARPA tax exclusion for most student loan discharges expired December 31, 2025, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness remains tax-free under IRC Section 108(f).
• SAVE Interest Warning
• No new Federal Student Aid updates were issued today.
• Interest accrual rules under SAVE-related administrative forbearance remain unchanged.
• Collections Status
• No new Department of Education announcements were issued today.
• Collections policy remains as stated in the last official federal update.
• Recertify Now
• No new StudentAid.gov guidance was issued today.
• Annual IDR recertification requirements remain unchanged.
• Do today
• Log in to StudentAid.gov to monitor your loan status and check for any newly posted federal announcements.
• If no new notices appear, no action is required beyond account monitoring.

January 27, 2026 —

Tax Bomb Status

• No new IRS guidance or statutory changes were issued today.
• Federal tax treatment remains governed by existing law: the ARPA tax exclusion for most student loan discharges expired December 31, 2025, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness remains tax-free under IRC Section 108(f).
• SAVE Interest Warning
• No new Federal Student Aid updates were issued today.
• Interest accrual rules under SAVE-related administrative forbearance remain unchanged.
• Collections Status
• No new Department of Education announcements were issued today.
• Collections policy remains as stated in the last official federal update.
• Recertify Now
• No new StudentAid.gov guidance was issued today.
• Annual IDR recertification requirements remain unchanged.
• Do today
• Log in to StudentAid.gov to monitor your loan status and check for any newly posted federal announcements.
• If no new notices appear, no action is required beyond account monitoring.

January 26, 2026 —

Tax Bomb Status

• No new IRS guidance or statutory changes were issued today.
• Federal tax treatment remains governed by existing law: the ARPA tax exclusion for most student loan discharges expired December 31, 2025, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness remains tax-free under IRC Section 108(f).
• SAVE Interest Warning
• No new Federal Student Aid updates were issued today.
• Interest accrual rules under SAVE-related administrative forbearance remain unchanged.
• Collections Status
• No new Department of Education announcements were issued today.
• Collections policy remains governed by the last official federal update issued on January 16, 2026, when the Department of Education announced a delay in initiating involuntary collections amid repayment system changes.
• Recertify Now
• No new StudentAid.gov guidance was issued today.
• Annual IDR recertification requirements remain unchanged.
• Do today
• Log in to StudentAid.gov to monitor your loan status and check for any newly posted federal announcements.
• If no new notices appear, no action is required beyond account monitoring.

January 25, 2026 —

Tax Bomb Status

• No new IRS guidance, Treasury notices, or statutory changes were issued today.
• Federal tax treatment remains governed by existing law. The ARPA tax-free exclusion for most student loan discharges expired on December 31, 2025. Any non-PSLF forgiveness processed in 2026 is taxable under current federal law. Public Service Loan Forgiveness remains permanently tax-free under IRC Section 108(f).
• SAVE Interest Warning
• No new Federal Student Aid or Department of Education updates were issued today.
• Loans placed in SAVE-related administrative forbearance continue to accrue interest under existing rules. No interest pause or retroactive relief has been announced.
• Collections Status
• No new Department of Education announcements were issued today.
• Collections policy remains unchanged from the last official federal guidance. No new enforcement delays, resumptions, or procedural changes were published.
• Recertify Now
• No new StudentAid.gov guidance was issued today.
• Annual IDR income recertification requirements remain unchanged.
• Do today
• Log in to StudentAid.gov to monitor your loan status and review account messages for any newly posted federal notices.
• If no new alerts or notices appear, no additional action is required beyond routine monitoring.

January 24, 2026 —

Tax Bomb Status

• No new IRS guidance or statutory changes were issued today.
• Federal tax treatment remains governed by existing law: the ARPA tax exclusion for most student loan discharges expired December 31, 2025, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness remains tax-free under IRC Section 108(f).
• SAVE Interest Warning
• No new Federal Student Aid updates were issued today.
• Interest accrual rules under SAVE-related administrative forbearance remain unchanged.
• Collections Status
• No new Department of Education announcements were issued today.
• Collections policy remains as stated in the last official federal update.
• Recertify Now
• No new StudentAid.gov guidance was issued today.
• Annual IDR recertification requirements remain unchanged.
• Do today
• Log in to StudentAid.gov to monitor your loan status and check for any newly posted federal announcements.
• If no new notices appear, no action is required beyond account monitoring.

January 23, 2026 —

Tax Bomb Status

• No new IRS guidance or statutory changes were issued today.
• Federal tax treatment remains governed by existing law: the ARPA tax exclusion for most student loan discharges expired December 31, 2025, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness remains tax-free under IRC Section 108(f).
• SAVE Interest Warning
• No new Federal Student Aid updates were issued today.
• Interest accrual rules under SAVE-related administrative forbearance remain unchanged.
• Collections Status
• No new Department of Education announcements were issued today.
• Collections policy remains as stated in the last official federal update.
• Recertify Now
• No new StudentAid.gov guidance was issued today.
• Annual IDR recertification requirements remain unchanged.
• Do today
• Log in to StudentAid.gov to monitor your loan status and check for any newly posted federal announcements.
• If no new notices appear, no action is required beyond account monitoring.

January 22, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status No new IRS guidance or statutory changes issued today.
• Federal tax treatment remains governed by existing law: the ARPA tax exclusion ended December 31, 2025, and PSLF remains tax-free under IRC §108(f).
• SAVE Interest Warning No new Federal Student Aid updates issued today.
• Interest accrual rules remain unchanged under existing SAVE administrative forbearance guidance.
• Collections Status No new Department of Education announcements issued today.
• Collections policy remains as stated in the last official federal update.
• Recertify Now No new StudentAid.gov guidance issued today.
• Annual IDR recertification requirements remain unchanged.
• Do today Check StudentAid.gov for any newly posted federal announcements.
• If no new notices appear, no action is required beyond monitoring your account.

January 21, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status The IRS confirms that the federal tax-free treatment for student loan discharges (under ARPA) covered only the years 2021–2025. Any discharge occurring in 2026 is potentially taxable income at the federal level unless Congress extends the law. PSLF discharges remain federally tax-free under IRC 108(f).
• SAVE Interest Warning FSA guidance states that loans in SAVE-related administrative forbearance began accruing interest again on August 1, 2025. While the plan remains in litigation and is set to be phased out by July 2028, your balance is growing daily. Interest is not retroactive but applies to every day since the August restart.
• Collections Update Following the January 16, 2026 announcement, involuntary collections, including Administrative Wage Garnishment and Treasury Offsets, remain temporarily paused. This administrative delay is intended to allow for the implementation of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. While seizures are on hold, interest accrual and credit reporting continue.
• Recertify Now Annual IDR recertification is mandatory. Missing your specific 2026 deadline can cause your payment to spike to the 10-year Standard amount. Tip: Many recertification deadlines have been extended to February 1, 2026, at the earliest. Consenting to IRS tax-data access on StudentAid.gov can enable auto-recertification.
• Do today Log in to StudentAid.gov and confirm (1) your status is not “Default” and (2) your IDR recertification date is visible. If you are in default, use this temporary collection pause to start Rehabilitation or Consolidation to protect your credit before involuntary collections eventually resume.

January 20, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status The federal tax-free exclusion for student-loan forgiveness (under ARPA) expired on December 31, 2025. Discharges in 2026 are now considered taxable income at the federal level unless Congress extends the law. PSLF and Borrower Defense discharges remain federally tax-free under long-standing IRS rules.
• Collections & Garnishment Pause In a major policy shift on January 16, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education officially paused plans to resume Administrative Wage Garnishment and Treasury Offsets (tax refund seizures). This delay allows the department to implement the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. While seizures are on hold, credit reporting and interest accrual on defaulted loans continue.
• Rehabilitation & Default Options Update The new law now allows borrowers to rehabilitate a defaulted loan twice (up from the previous one-time limit). This gives borrowers a “second chance” to get back into good standing. The current pause in collections provides a window to start this process or consolidate before forced collections eventually resume later this year.
• IDR & Repayment Plan Transition The SAVE plan has been eliminated. A new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) is scheduled to launch on July 1, 2026, becoming the primary income-driven option. RAP will feature a 30-year forgiveness timeline and will waive unpaid interest for borrowers who make on-time payments, even if the payment doesn’t cover all interest.
• Recertify Now Annual IDR recertification is mandatory. Missing your specific 2026 deadline can cause your payment to spike to the 10-year Standard amount. Tip: Many recertification deadlines have been pushed to February 2026 at the earliest. Consenting to IRS tax-data access on StudentAid.gov can enable auto-recertification.
• Do today Log in to StudentAid.gov and confirm (1) your status is not “Default” and (2) your IDR recertification date is visible. If you are in default, contact your servicer about the new second-chance rehabilitation options to stabilize your credit before the temporary collection pause ends.

January 19, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status The ARPA federal tax-free exclusion for student-loan forgiveness expired on December 31, 2025. Most forgiveness under income-driven plans processed in 2026 will be treated as taxable income unless Congress reinstates the exclusion. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) remains tax-free under IRC Section 108(f).
• Collections Pause — Default Actions Delay Federal default collections are in a state of flux following the January 16 announcement. The U.S. Department of Education has paused planned wage garnishments and Treasury offsets (tax refund seizures) while it rolls out the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. Credit reporting and interest accrual continue for defaulted borrowers during this pause.
• Backlog & Processing Delays Large administrative backlogs continue to affect many borrowers waiting for IDR approvals and forgiveness progress. These delays may impact how quickly you can transition into new plans later this year.
• SAVE & Repayment Plan Updates The SAVE plan remains blocked and is being phased out. A new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP) is expected to launch on July 1, 2026, offering a simplified IDR path. Borrowers on SAVE or other sunsetting plans will likely be transitioned to RAP or IBR by 2028.
• Recertify Now IDR recertification is still annual. Missing your deadline can revert you to the 10-year Standard repayment amount. Providing tax-info consent on StudentAid.gov can support auto-recertification if your specific plan allows it.
• Do today Log in to StudentAid.gov and confirm (1) your loan status is not “Default” and (2) your next IDR recertification date is visible. If you are in default, use this “second chance” pause to explore Rehabilitation or Consolidation before offsets potentially resume later in 2026.

January 18, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status ARPA’s federal tax-free treatment for discharged student-loan debt ended on December 31, 2025. In 2026, most income-driven forgiveness discharges may be taxable at the federal level unless Congress extends the exclusion. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) remains exempt from federal tax under IRC Section 108(f).
• SAVE & Interest Status The SAVE plan is being phased out following recent court rulings and legislative changes. A new option, the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), is expected to roll out on July 1, 2026. Interest has been accruing on loans formerly in the SAVE plan since August 1, 2025.
• Collections Pause — Wage Garnishment & Offsets In a major reversal on January 16, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education temporarily paused involuntary collections, including wage garnishments and Treasury offsets. This delay is intended to allow the department time to implement new repayment reforms under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.
• Credit Reporting & Default Consequences Still Active While forced collections are paused, the Department of Education continues to report defaults to credit bureaus. Interest accrual also continues on defaulted balances, and being in default may still limit your access to future federal student aid.
• Recertify Now Annual IDR recertification is still required. Missing your deadline can cause your payment to jump to the 10-year Standard plan amount. Providing tax-info consent on StudentAid.gov can help enable automatic recertification for eligible borrowers.
• Do today Log in to your StudentAid.gov account to confirm (1) your loan status is not “Default” and (2) your IDR recertification date is clearly listed. If you are in default, use this temporary pause to explore Rehabilitation or Consolidation to protect your finances before forced collections eventually resume later this year.

January 17, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status ARPA’s federal tax-free treatment for discharged student-loan debt ended on December 31, 2025. In 2026, most income-driven forgiveness discharges may be taxable at the federal level unless Congress extends the exclusion. PSLF still generally remains exempt from federal tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 108(f).
• SAVE Interest Warning Interest has been accruing again on loans in the SAVE plan since August 1, 2025, after courts blocked the original zero-interest implementation. Expect balances to grow while you remain in this status, even though payments are currently paused.
• Collections Update — Pause on Garnishment/Offsets The U.S. Department of Education has paused plans to begin wage garnishment and federal tax refund seizures that were set to resume in January 2026. This temporary delay allows for the implementation of new repayment reforms. However, credit reporting and interest accrual on defaulted loans continue.
• Recertify Now IDR plan recertification remains annual. Missing your deadline can revert your payment to the 10-year Standard plan. If eligible, providing tax-info consent on StudentAid.gov can support automatic recertification.
• Do today Log in to your Federal Student Aid (FSA) account and confirm (1) your loan status and (2) your next IDR recertification date. If you are in default, use this temporary collections pause to explore Rehabilitation or Consolidation before offsets and garnishments eventually resume.

January 16, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status ARPA’s federal “tax-free” rule covered student-loan discharges in 2021–2025. A discharge in 2026 is potentially taxable income unless Congress extends the law. PSLF remains federally tax-free under IRC 108(f).
• SAVE Interest Warning SAVE-related administrative forbearance has accrued interest since Aug 1, 2025—assume your balance can grow while you remain in that status.
• Collections Active Default collections are active (Treasury offsets active; wage garnishment resumes after required notices).
• Recertify Now IDR recertification is annual. Miss it and your payment can jump to the 10-year Standard amount. Tip: Tax-info consent can support auto-recertification (if eligible).
• Do today Log in and confirm (1) your status is not “Default” and (2) your IDR recertification date is visible. If you are in default, ask about Rehabilitation or Consolidation to limit/stop future offsets.

January 15, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status ARPA’s federal “tax-free” treatment covered most student loan discharges from 2021 through 2025. Any discharge finalized in 2026 is currently taxable at the federal level unless Congress extends the rule. Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) remains federally tax-free.
• SAVE Interest Warning SAVE-related administrative forbearance continues to accrue interest. This has been in effect since August 1, 2025. If you are in this status, assume your balance is growing even if payments are paused.
• Collections Active Default collections are active. Treasury offsets are ongoing. Wage garnishment can resume after required notices are issued. There is no blanket pause in place.
• Recertify Now IDR recertification is annual. Missing your deadline can push you onto the 10-year Standard repayment amount. If available to you, tax information consent can help with automatic recertification.
• Do today Log in and confirm your loan status is not marked “Default” and that your IDR recertification date is clearly listed. If you are in default, ask about Rehabilitation or Consolidation to reduce or stop future offsets.

January 14, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status ARPA’s federal “tax-free” rule covered student-loan discharges in 2021–2025. A 2026 discharge may be taxable unless extended. PSLF remains federally tax-free.
• SAVE Interest Warning SAVE-related administrative forbearance accrues interest (since Aug 1, 2025)—assume balances can grow while you’re in that status.
• Collections Active Default collections are active (Treasury offsets active; wage garnishment resumes after required notices).
• Recertify Now IDR recertification is annual. Miss it and your payment can jump to the 10-year Standard amount. Tip: Tax-info consent can support auto-recertification (if eligible).
• Do today Log in and confirm you’re not in “Default” and your IDR recertification date is visible. If you are in default, ask about Rehabilitation or Consolidation to limit/stop future offsets.

January 13, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status ARPA’s federal “tax-free” window covers qualifying student-loan discharges in 2021–2025 (through Dec 31, 2025). A 2026 discharge may be taxable unless extended. PSLF remains federally tax-free.
• SAVE Interest Warning SAVE administrative forbearance has accrued interest since Aug 1, 2025—assume your balance is growing while you’re in that status.
• Collections Active Default collections restarted May 5, 2025 (Treasury offsets active; wage garnishment resumes after required notices).
• Recertify Now IDR recertification is annual. Miss it and your payment can jump to the 10-year Standard amount; tax-info consent may allow auto-recertification (if eligible).
• Do today Check whether your status shows “Default” and confirm your IDR recertification date; if default, ask about Rehabilitation or Consolidation to stop/limit involuntary collections (including offsets).

January 12, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status IRS guidance confirms the ARPA federal “tax-free” window covered student-loan discharges in 2021–2025 (discharges after Dec 31, 2020 and before Jan 1, 2026). A 2026 discharge may be taxable unless extended or another IRS exclusion applies.
• SAVE Interest Warning SAVE-related administrative forbearance has accrued interest since Aug 1, 2025—assume your balance can grow while you remain in that status.
• Collections Active Involuntary collections on defaulted federal loans restarted May 5, 2025 (Treasury offsets active; wage garnishment resumes after required notices).
• Recertify Now IDR recertification is annual. Missing your deadline can spike payments to the 10-year Standard amount. Tip: Tax-info consent can enable auto-recertification (if eligible).
• Do today Log in and confirm (1) your status is not “Default” and (2) your IDR recertification date is visible. If you are in default, ask about Rehabilitation or Consolidation to limit/stop involuntary collections (including offsets).

January 11, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status: The ARPA federal “tax-free” window for many student-loan discharges covered 2021–2025. Discharges in 2026 may be taxable income unless Congress extends the law (or another IRS exclusion applies). PSLF remains federally tax-free.
• SAVE Interest Warning: SAVE-related administrative forbearance has been accruing interest since Aug 1, 2025 (not retroactive). Assume your balance is growing daily while you remain in this status.
• Collections Active: Involuntary collections on defaulted loans restarted on May 5, 2025 (Treasury offsets active; wage garnishment resumes after required notices).
• Recertify Now: IDR recertification is annual. Missing the deadline can spike your payment to the 10-year Standard amount. Tip: Keeping tax-info consent active can allow auto-recertification (if eligible).
• Do today: Log in and check if your status is “Default.” If yes, contact your servicer/Default Resolution Group immediately about Rehabilitation or Consolidation—this may stop future offsets once processed.

January 10, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status: ARPA’s federal “tax-free” rule covered most student-loan discharges in 2021–2025. A 2026 discharge may be taxable unless extended. PSLF remains federally tax-free.
• SAVE Interest Warning: SAVE-related forbearance accrues interest again (since Aug 1, 2025)—assume balances can grow while you’re stuck in that status.
• Collections Active: Default collections are on (Treasury offsets active; wage garnishment after required notices).
• Recertify Now: IDR recertification is annual. Miss it and payments can jump to the 10-year Standard amount. Tip: keeping tax-info consent active can enable auto-recertification (if eligible).
• Do today: Confirm you’re not in “Default” and your IDR recertification date is visible. If you are in default, ask about Rehabilitation or Consolidation to limit/stop offsets.

January 9, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status: IRS guidance says the special federal “tax-free” treatment for many student-loan discharges applies to discharges after Dec 31, 2020 and before Jan 1, 2026 (ARPA window = 2021–2025). A discharge in 2026 may be taxable unless extended. PSLF forgiveness is not treated as taxable income for federal purposes.
• SAVE Interest Warning: ED/FSA says loans in SAVE-related forbearance began accruing interest again on Aug 1, 2025—assume balances can grow while you’re in that status.
• Collections Active: ED restarted collections on defaulted federal loans on May 5, 2025. Treasury offsets are active; wage garnishment follows required notices.
• Recertify Now: IDR recertification is annual. Tip: keeping tax-info consent active can allow automatic recertification each year (if eligible).
• Do today: Check whether your status shows “Default” and confirm your IDR recertification deadline. If you’re in default, ask about Rehabilitation or Consolidation to limit/stop offsets and other involuntary collections.

January 8, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status: IRS guidance confirms ARPA’s federal tax-free treatment applied only to student-loan discharges in 2021–2025. If your discharge happens in 2026, do not assume it is tax-free unless Congress extends the law. Note: PSLF remains federally tax-free.
• SAVE Interest Warning: ED/FSA confirms that loans in SAVE-related forbearance began accruing interest again on Aug 1, 2025—assume your balance is growing daily while you remain in this status.
• Collections Active: ED restarted involuntary collections on defaulted federal loans on May 5, 2025. The Treasury Offset Program is fully active, and wage garnishment resumes after mandatory notice periods.
• Recertify Now: IDR recertification is annual. Tip: If you keep your IRS data consent active in StudentAid.gov settings, ED can automatically recertify your income (if eligible) to prevent a payment spike.
• Do today: Log in to StudentAid.gov and check two things: your “Default” status and your IDR Recertification Date. If you are in default, contact your servicer immediately to request Rehabilitation or Consolidation before tax season offsets begin.

January 7, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status: IRS guidance says the ARPA federal tax-free treatment applies to student-loan discharges in 2021–2025; a 2026 discharge may be taxable unless Congress extends it. Public-service-based forgiveness is generally excluded under IRC 108(f).

• SAVE Interest Warning: ED/FSA says SAVE-related forbearance began accruing interest again on Aug 1, 2025—assume balances can grow while you’re in that status.

• Collections Active: ED restarted collections on defaulted federal loans on May 5, 2025 (Treasury offsets active; wage garnishment after required notices).

• Recertify Now: IDR recertification is annual. If you consent to federal tax-info access, your IDR plan may be auto-recertified each year.

• Do today: Log in to your federal student aid account and confirm your status isn’t “Default” and your IDR recertification date is visible—then contact your servicer immediately if anything looks wrong.

January 6, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status: The federal tax-free window still applies only to 2021–2025 discharges; don’t assume 2026 is tax-free. PSLF remains federally tax-free.
• SAVE Interest Warning: Interest on SAVE-related administrative forbearance continues accruing from Aug 1, 2025.
• Collections Active: Default collections remain on since May 5, 2025 (offsets active; garnishment after notices).
• Recertify Now: Confirm your IDR recertification deadline and keep tax-data consent on (if eligible) to avoid payment shock.
• Do today: Verify your contact info and current repayment plan/status so you don’t miss notices or recertification steps.

January 5, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status: ARPA’s federal “tax-free” rule covered student-loan discharges in 2021–2025. A 2026 discharge may be taxable unless extended. PSLF remains federally tax-free.
• SAVE Interest Warning: SAVE-related administrative forbearance accrues interest again starting Aug 1, 2025—assume balances can grow until your plan status changes.
• Collections Active: Collections on defaulted federal loans restarted May 5, 2025. Tax refund offsets are active; wage garnishment follows required notices.
• Recertify Now: IDR recertification is annual. Missing it can spike payments to the 10-year Standard amount. Tip: tax-data consent can enable automatic recertification.
• Do today: Check whether your loan status shows “Default.” If yes, call and ask about Rehabilitation or Consolidation to limit/stop involuntary collections (including offsets).

January 4, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status: The IRS confirms the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) tax-free treatment applied only to discharges in 2021–2025. If your discharge occurs in 2026, the ARPA window may no longer apply—treat “tax-free” as not guaranteed and plan accordingly. Note: PSLF forgiveness remains tax-free for federal purposes.
• SAVE Interest Warning: The Department of Education states that SAVE balances began accruing interest again on August 1, 2025. If you are currently in SAVE-related forbearance, assume your balance is growing daily until you switch plans.
• Collections Active: Collections on defaulted federal loans restarted on May 5, 2025. The Treasury Offset Program is fully active, and administrative wage garnishment resumes after required notices are sent.
• Recertify Now: IDR recertification is mandatory annually. Missing the deadline can cause your payment to spike to the Standard 10-Year amount. Tip: Consenting to IRS data access within the IDR application allows for automatic annual recertification.
• Do today: Log in to StudentAid.gov and check if your status is “Default.” If yes, contact the Default Resolution Group or your servicer immediately to discuss Rehabilitation or Consolidation to stop involuntary collections (including tax offsets).

January 3, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Status: The federal tax-free treatment for student loan discharges applied only to years 2021–2025. Discharges granted in 2026 (including IDR-related forgiveness) may be taxable income unless Congress extends the law. Note: PSLF remains tax-free for federal purposes.
• SAVE Interest Warning: ED guidance confirms interest began accruing again on SAVE administrative forbearance starting August 1, 2025. This forbearance is no longer interest-free.
• Collections Active: The “Fresh Start” program ended Oct 2, 2024. ED restarted collections on defaulted loans on May 5, 2025 (Treasury Offset is active; wage garnishment resumes after required notices).
• Recertify Now: IDR recertification is annual. If you miss your deadline, your payment can spike to the Standard 10-Year amount. Check your specific date on StudentAid.gov, as many deadlines are now active for early 2026.
• Do today: Log in to StudentAid.gov and check if your status says “Default.” If it does, contact your servicer immediately and ask about Rehabilitation or Consolidation to stop or limit further involuntary collection actions (including tax offsets).

January 2, 2026 —

• Tax Bomb Returns: The federal tax exemption on student loan forgiveness expired on Dec 31, 2025. As of yesterday, any debt cancelled via IDR or PSLF is technically treated as taxable income by the IRS until Congress passes a retroactive extension.
• SAVE Plan Limbo: The courts have not yet ruled on the Department of Education’s Dec 9, 2025 proposal to sunset the program. For now, the SAVE plan remains closed to new applicants, and current enrollees are still in administrative forbearance with 0% interest.
• Recertification Resumes: Income recertification deadlines are active for early 2026. If your date is approaching, you must submit income documentation immediately to avoid interest capitalization and a payment spike to the Standard plan rate.
• Processing Delays: Servicers report no significant reduction in the ~800,000 pending IDR applications over the holiday break. Borrowers waiting for plan switches should expect continued delays through Q1 2026 due to the legal uncertainty.
• Do today: Log into your loan servicer’s portal (Mohela, EdFinancial, etc.) to confirm your specific IDR anniversary date. If it falls in January or February, manually upload your income proof now rather than waiting for auto-retrieval.

January 1, 2026 —

Do today: Check the IDR court-actions page on StudentAid.gov and update your contact info so you don’t miss ED notices.

SAVE: U.S. Department of Education’s proposed settlement (Dec 9, 2025) is still pending court approval. If approved, new SAVE enrollments stay closed, pending SAVE applications are denied, and current SAVE borrowers will be moved to other legal repayment plans.

IDR / PSLF delays: ED’s latest court filing still shows ~802,730 IDR applications pending and ~80,210 PSLF Buyback requests pending (status unchanged from Nov 30, 2025).

Tax bomb: Federal tax-free student loan forgiveness ended Dec 31, 2025. Any forgiveness occurring from today (2026) may again be federally taxable, unless Congress extends the exclusion.

Collections: Federal student loan collections authority remains active for defaulted loans in 2026 per ED/FSA policy (including Treasury Offset and wage garnishment authority).

December 31, 2025 —

• SAVE: U.S. Department of Education announced a proposed settlement (Dec 9, 2025) to end new SAVE enrollments, deny pending SAVE applications, and move current SAVE borrowers into other repayment plans (pending court approval).
• IDR/PSLF delays: Latest court filing from ED shows ~802,730 IDR applications pending and ~80,210 PSLF Buyback requests pending (as of Nov 30, 2025).
• Tax bomb: Federal tax-free student loan forgiveness expires Dec 31, 2025. Forgiveness occurring in 2026 may be federally taxable again unless Congress extends the exclusion.
• Do today: Check the IDR court-actions page on StudentAid.gov.

December 30, 2025 —

• SAVE: ED announced a proposed settlement to end new SAVE enrollments and move SAVE borrowers into other repayment plans.
• IDR/PSLF delays: Latest filing shows ~802,730 IDR apps pending and ~80,210 PSLF Buyback pending (as of Nov 30, 2025).
• Tax bomb: Federal tax-free student loan forgiveness ends Dec 31, 2025; some 2026 forgiveness may be taxable federally again.
• Do today: check the IDR court-actions page on StudentAid.gov.

December 29, 2025 —

• Wage garnishment resumes in early 2026 for federal student loan borrowers still in default after years of pandemic pauses.
• Defaulted borrowers may receive notices in January and could see paycheck withholding if no action is taken.
• Loan rehabilitation and consolidation remain the main ways to stop garnishment before it starts.
• New federal borrowing limits are scheduled for the 2026–27 school year, mainly affecting future students, not current borrowers.
• FAFSA for 2026–27 is open, and federal aid programs continue as normal.

December 28, 2025 — Sunday (Federal Offices Closed)

• No new federal student loan or FAFSA policy changes were announced today.
• Federal Student Aid (FSA) offices and U.S. Department of Education offices are closed today due to the Sunday weekend.
• StudentAid.gov remains accessible for online actions, including FAFSA submissions, IDR plan applications, and account review.
• Application processing, manual reviews, and status updates will likely remain paused until federal offices reopen.
• Customer support and call centers (1-800-4-FED-AID) are closed today.
• Federal loan servicer websites remain online, but no approvals, disbursements, or account changes should be expected today.

What Borrowers Should Know:

• Applications submitted today will remain in queue until federal offices resume full operations.
• Processing backlogs are expected early this week as offices reopen after the holiday period and weekend downtime.
• Borrowers should monitor official Department of Education announcements for any post-holiday updates and early-2026 changes.

December 27, 2025 — Weekend Closure (Federal Offices Closed)

No new federal student loan or FAFSA policy changes were announced today.

• Federal Student Aid (FSA) offices and U.S. Department of Education offices are closed today due to the weekend following the Christmas federal holiday.
• StudentAid.gov remains accessible for online actions, including FAFSA submissions, IDR plan applications, and account review.
• Application processing, manual reviews, and status updates remain paused until federal offices reopen.
• Customer support and call centers (1-800-4-FED-AID) are closed today.
• Federal loan servicer websites remain online, but no approvals, disbursements, or account changes should be expected today.

What Borrowers Should Know:

• Applications submitted today will remain in queue until federal offices resume full operations.
• Processing backlogs are expected early next week, with higher-than-normal volumes as offices reopen after the holiday period.
• Borrowers should continue monitoring official Department of Education announcements for post-holiday updates and any early-2026 policy changes.

December 26, 2025 — Federal Holiday (Observed Closure / Reduced Operations)

No new federal student loan policy changes were announced today.

• Federal Student Aid (FSA) offices and U.S. Department of Education operations remain closed or operating with minimal staffing today under the federal holiday schedule following Christmas Day.

• StudentAid.gov remains accessible for online actions, including FAFSA submissions, IDR plan applications, and account review; however, application processing and manual reviews remain paused.

• Customer support and call centers (1-800-4-FED-AID) remain unavailable today.

• Federal loan servicing platforms remain online, but borrowers should not expect approvals, status updates, or disbursements today.

What Borrowers Should Know:

Applications submitted today will remain in queue until federal offices resume full operations.

Processing backlogs are expected to clear gradually after offices reopen, with higher-than-normal volumes anticipated early next week.

Borrowers should continue monitoring official Department of Education communications for post-holiday guidance and any early-2026 policy announcements.

December 25, 2025 — Federal Holiday (Christmas Day)

No new federal student loan policy changes were announced today.

• Federal Student Aid (FSA) offices and U.S. Department of Education operations are closed today due to the federal Christmas Day holiday.

• StudentAid.gov remains accessible for online actions such as FAFSA submission, IDR plan applications, and account review, but processing activity is paused.

• Customer support and call centers (1-800-4-FED-AID) are unavailable today.

• Loan servicing systems remain online, but borrowers should not expect approvals, status changes, or disbursements today.

What Borrowers Should Know:

• Any applications submitted today will remain in queue until federal offices reopen.
• Normal processing volumes are expected to resume after the holiday period.
• Borrowers are advised to monitor official Department of Education communications for post-holiday updates.

December 24, 2025 — Federal Holiday & Office Closures

Federal Student Aid (FSA) offices and contact centers are closed today. Federal Student Aid offices are not operating today due to holiday-related federal office closures and reduced staffing

Impact on Borrowers:

• Processing Paused: You can still submit FAFSA forms and IDR applications online, but processing is not expected to resume until after the holiday closure period.
• No Support: Call centers (1-800-4-FED-AID) and dispute resolution groups are unavailable.
• Funding Halt: No federal student aid funds are being disbursed to schools today.

Upcoming Schedule Alert: Federal offices remain closed on Thursday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day) and Friday, Dec. 26 (per the same Executive Order). Normal processing volumes are expected to resume Monday, Dec. 29.

December 23, 2025 — Wage Garnishment Expected to Resume in 2026

The U.S. Department of Education has previously stated that federal collection actions, including wage garnishment for defaulted student loans, are expected to resume in early 2026 after the pandemic-era pause.

As of today December 23, 2025, no new formal announcement or borrower notice has been publicly released detailing exact start dates or volumes.

Borrowers in default should be aware that federal law allows the Department to resume collection actions, which may include:

• Garnishment of up to 15% of discretionary income
• Seizure of federal tax refunds
• Withholding of certain Social Security benefits

Borrowers are generally considered in default after 270 days of nonpayment. Federal law requires the Department to provide at least 30 days’ notice before any wage garnishment action begins.

December 22, 2025 — FAFSA & System Maintenance Update

Federal Student Aid systems have largely recovered from weekend maintenance and remain operational with no new outages reported.

The 2026–27 FAFSA “Soft Launch” remains active with no structural changes.

Users may experience intermittent processing delays during peak hours (9:00 AM–5:00 PM ET).

Servicers report normal operations for IDR plan adjustments.

No new guidance has been issued on IDR processing timelines or forgiveness tax treatment as of today.

December 21, 2025 — Weekend Maintenance

Users reported temporary access issues with the “Change Plan” tool on StudentAid.gov.

This was attributed to scheduled weekend maintenance.

No adverse impact on pending applications was recorded.

December 19, 2025 — Tax Waiver Expiration Warning

The Department of Education reminds borrowers that the tax-free status of student loan forgiveness under the American Rescue Plan expires on December 31, 2025.

Discharges processed after this date may be considered taxable income under 2026 IRS rules.