Loan forgiveness and PSLF under the new rules
Three clocks run on federal loans: PSLF at 120 qualifying payments, IBR at 20 or 25 years, and RAP at 30 years. Which payments count toward each is where people get caught.
Tools
Guides
- PSLF and the new plans: what counts and what doesn'tOn-time RAP payments count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Tiered Standard payments do not. What changed for PSLF in 2026.
- RAP forgiveness after 30 years, and the tax questionRAP forgives what is left after 360 qualifying payments over at least 30 years. What counts as a qualifying payment, and why forgiveness may be taxable.
- PSLF buyback: paying for months that didn’t countMonths in certain deferments or forbearances while you worked in public service can be bought back toward the 120 payments. Who can do it, what it costs, and the RAP exception.
- PSLF: which employers qualify, and what full time meansGovernment at any level, 501(c)(3) nonprofits and some other nonprofits qualify. Full time means an average of at least 30 hours a week. The details from the regulation.
- Teacher Loan Forgiveness: up to $5,000 or $17,500Five consecutive years of full-time teaching at a designated low-income school can bring forgiveness of up to $5,000, or $17,500 for some math, science and special-education teachers.