Married filing jointly
- RAP and IBR use your combined AGI.
- If your spouse also has eligible federal student loans, your payment is multiplied by your share of the couple’s combined balance. For RAP the result still can’t fall below $10.
- Exception: if you certify that you are separated or can’t reasonably get your spouse’s income, only your income is used.
Example under RAP: combined AGI $100,000, one dependent, you owe $30,000 and your spouse owes $10,000. Base payment: 9% × $100,000 ÷ 12 − $50 = $700. Your share is 75%, so your payment is $525.
Married filing separately
- Only your AGI is used.
- For RAP, only dependents claimed on your return count.
- For IBR, your spouse is not part of your family size.
Filing status is a tax decision too
Filing separately can change your taxes. This site doesn’t model taxes; a tax professional can tell you what separate filing would cost or save.
The calculator has fields for filing status and your spouse’s loan balance.
Not financial or legal advice. This page explains the published rules. It does not tell you which plan to choose. Your loan servicer and StudentAid.gov have the final word on your account.
Official sources
- Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1, signed July 4, 2025), Title VIII, Secs. 81001–82004
- 34 CFR 685.209, income-driven repayment plans (current eCFR, as amended May 1, 2026)
- 20 U.S.C. 1098e, income-based repayment (Cornell LII copy of the U.S. Code)
- StudentAid.gov: One Big Beautiful Bill Act – Important Definitions (updated Aug. 24, 2026)
Last verified Oct 17, 2026. Corrections are logged on What changed.
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