Category: Student Loan

QUESTION:

My company is thinking about offering a student loan repayment benefit for our employees. How does it work?

ANSWER:

This benefit, which pays off anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a year in student loan debt for employees, has grown in popularity among Fortune 1,000 companies and may make sense for smaller companies.

To protect your investment, define parameters such as eligibility, reimbursement limits and consider implementing retention agreements to require employees to stay with the company for a period after receiving benefits. Also, ensure that you reimburse for education related to your company goals. Consult your tax pro for guidance.

QUESTION:

As an employee-retention move, is there any tax-advantaged way I can help my employees with their student debt?

ANSWER:

Consider implementing a qualified education assistance program to pay part of employees’ student loans. Now, through 2025, you can pay up to $5,250 a year per employee to help them make student loan payments and receive a tax deduction for your payments. This amount is excluded from employees’ income. Plus, under a new law in 2024, you can offer matching 401(k) contributions to employees based on their repayment of student loans. Participation is voluntary, and employees must opt-in.