{ "banners": { "tv" : [ {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/2-28-25-wtiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1740718800000", "endingDate" : "1740891540000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-2-25-wtiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1740891600000", "endingDate" : "1741237140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-6-25-wtiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1741237200000", "endingDate" : "1741409940000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-8-25-wtiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1741410000000", "endingDate" : "1741496340000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-9-25-wtiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1741496400000", "endingDate" : "1741751940000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-15-25-wtiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1741752000000", "endingDate" : "1742011140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-15-25-wtiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1742011200000", "endingDate" : "1742097540000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYuMn%2bAFYFwp%2bq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-16-25-wtiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1742097600000", "endingDate" : "1742183940000"} ], "radio" : [ {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flgkr2wNtsqwhq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-19-24-wfiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1734584400000", "endingDate" : "1734757140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flgkr2wNtsqwhq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-21-24-wfiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1734757200000", "endingDate" : "1734843540000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flgkr2wNtsqwhq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-19-24-wfiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1734843600000", "endingDate" : "1735448340000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flgkr2wNtsqwhq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-29-24-wfiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1735448400000", "endingDate" : "1735534740000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDBNR&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flgkr2wNtsqwhq1gzMC6uhq5nDjkJobrCdg%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-30-24-wfiu-bnr-new.jpg", "startingDate" : "1735534800000", "endingDate" : "1735621140000"} , {"url" : "https://give.myiu.org/iu-bloomington/I320003967.html", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-31-24-wfiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1735621200000", "endingDate" : "1735707540000"} , {"url" : "https://give.myiu.org/iu-bloomington/I320003967.html", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/1-1-25-wfiu-bnr.jpg", "startingDate" : "1735707600000", "endingDate" : "1735793940000"} ] }}

{ "lightboxes": { "tv" : [ {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/2-28-25-wtiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1740718800000", "endingDate" : "1740891540000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-2-25-wtiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1740891600000", "endingDate" : "1741237140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-6-25-wtiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1741237200000", "endingDate" : "1741409940000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-8-25-wtiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1741410000000", "endingDate" : "1741496340000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-9-25-wtiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1741496400000", "endingDate" : "1741751940000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-12-25-wtiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1741752000000", "endingDate" : "1742011140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-15-25-wtiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1742011200000", "endingDate" : "1742097540000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WTIUMCLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=2T6mTyo6yYtDgsQprWuZNm3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/3-16-25-wtiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1742097600000", "endingDate" : "1742183940000"} ], "radio" : [ {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flizvLEFSbjC6m3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-19-24-wfiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1734584400000", "endingDate" : "1734757140000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flizvLEFSbjC6m3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-21-24-wfiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1734757200000", "endingDate" : "1734843540000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flizvLEFSbjC6m3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-19-24-wfiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1734843600000", "endingDate" : "1735448340000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flizvLEFSbjC6m3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-29-24-wfiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1735448400000", "endingDate" : "1735534740000"} , {"url" : "https://indianapublicmedia.secureallegiance.com/wtiu/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=WFIUFDLB&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=tAXekcDG%2flizvLEFSbjC6m3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-30-24-wfiu-lightbox-new.jpg", "startingDate" : "1735534800000", "endingDate" : "1735621140000"} , {"url" : "https://give.myiu.org/iu-bloomington/I320003967.html", "img" : "https://indianapublicmedia.org/images/banner-images/12-31-24-wfiu-lightbox.jpg", "startingDate" : "1735621200000", "endingDate" : "1735707540000"} ] }}

Student loan forgiveness could cost Hoosiers this tax season

By Elyse Perry

Posted March 13, 2025

Portland, OR, USA - Apr 21, 2021: The Student Loan Forgiveness page is seen on the website of the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid from an iPhone.

The SAVE plan canceled debt for qualified borrowers who had been repaying student loans for at least 10 years and had taken out less than $12,000. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Tax season could bring unexpected costs to some Hoosiers this year. Student loan borrowers who had their debt forgiven under the SAVE plan will be required to pay income tax on the canceled amount.

The SAVE plan, an income-driven repayment option implemented by the Biden administration, canceled debt for qualified borrowers who had been repaying student loans for at least 10 years and had taken out less than $12,000.

While this forgiveness is not taxed at the federal level, it is taxable at the state and county level. Indiana state income tax is 3.05 percent and county tax varies. On average across the state, forgiveness will be taxed 5 percent.

IU professor Greg Geisler noted that taxing student loan forgiveness will place a burden on borrowers who have to find the cash to cover the extra income tax.

“Now here’s the thing about getting any debt forgiven: you’re wealthier because you have less debt, less loans,” Geisler said. “Yeah, you're better off, but you don't have any cash to pay the extra income tax.”

In 2024, more than 3,000 Hoosiers qualified for the SAVE plan.

Borrowers who owe income tax on their loan forgiveness should receive a 1099-C, Cancellation of Debt form, which they must report on their tax returns. Taxes are due on April 15.

Indiana is one of five states that taxes student loan forgiveness as income. IU professor Greg Geisler said states determine what they classify as taxable income.

“Most states say, ‘Okay, that's not income on the federal tax return. That's not going to be income on our state tax return,’” Geisler said. “But states don't have to follow the federal income tax rules, and Indiana is one that does not.”

However, if the borrower is unable to pay what they owe, then the forgiveness is taxable only to the extent of the borrower's solvency.