Sallie Mae

I think I may have found a loophole. My loan is a career training loan. So does this mean I can file bankruptcy on this loan. I am desperate here. Please answer this this if you have the knowledge to do so. Thank You

DH cosigned a career training loan for our son. It was treated as an unsecured debt. Sallie Mae filed a proof of claim on it. The trustee makes a monthly payment to Sallie Mae every month. One good thing, however, the trustee allowed us to also make a payment every month so Sallie Mae is getting 2 payments every month. When we complete our plan, this loan will be paid off. Bad news: Even though this is called a career training loan, under the old law it was still treated like a student loan and was undischargeable. I am not sure what the new law states. I can only relate to my experience. Good Luck!

I think I may have found a loophole. My loan is a career training loan. So does this mean I can file bankruptcy on this loan. I am desperate here. Please answer this this if you have the knowledge to do so. Thank You Sorry, Nick - according to this bankruptcy lawyer, your career training loan is still considered a student loan and isn't dischargeable in bankruptcy - http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/message.php?i=250455758&view=a

Take a look at the options listed here if you can't afford to pay back the loan - http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/pg/1/http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/message.php?i=250455758&view=aobjectId/63C80677-0D3E-4505-AC3B7782841603F6/catId/2E00F7A7-E208-4858-BD0B8308A4D30D8A/213/208/135/ART/

Student Loans: Maybe They Can Be Discharged After All

By Craig Andresen, Attorney at Law on Mar 14, 2008 in Discharge, What Can and Cannot Be Forgiven, Student Loans

Section 523(a)(8) of the bankruptcy law states that student loans cannot be discharged, unless payment of the student loans would impose an undue hardship upon the debtor or his dependents. This section has been part of the bankruptcy law for over twenty-five years. It was also amended in 2005 to include private student loans.

However, not all loans incurred in connection with education costs are student loans. For a loan to fall with this section, (1) it must have been made under a government or nonprofit student loan program, or (2) it must be a qualified educational loan under section 221(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, for attending an eligible education institution as defined in section 221(d)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, and incurred for costs of attendance as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act.

If you have a student loan and are filing for bankruptcy, it would be wise to discuss with your attorney whether your student loan falls within these definitions. Perhaps your student loan bill arrives from Sallie Mae and you attended a public university; in such a case you probably can conclude that your student loan qualifies under definition (1) above. If so, you cannot discharge the student loan unless you can prove undue hardship.

On the other hand, if you attended a for-profit trade school and obtained a private loan from the school, or from a financial institution to which the school referred you, maybe none, or only part, of such a loan qualifies under definition (2) above. Remember, if a private student loan does not qualify under the extensive legal provisions referred to in definition (2), the loan is dischargeable without your having to prove undue hardship.

For example, perhaps you were not an “eligible student” at the time the private student loan was made to you; or maybe the loan was not incurred to pay “qualified education expenses”; or perhaps the loan was not for attendance at an “eligible education institution” because the school was not accredited under Title IV of the Higher Education Act. All these are requirements imposed by section 221(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. Failure of a private student loan to meet any of these criteria means that the loan is fully dischargeable, because it would not qualify under section 523(a)(8) of the bankruptcy law.

Because section 523(a)(8) incorporates requirements contained in section 221(d) of the Internal Revenue Code, persons filing for bankruptcy and owing private student loans should carefully review section 221(d) with their attorney to determine if such loans are dischargeable. Section 221(d) is lengthy, and it imposes many requirements which must be met before a loan can qualify as a student loan. If your loans fail to meet these criteria, you may be able to discharge them in your bankruptcy.

http://www.bankruptcylawnetwork.com/2008/03/14/student-loans-maybe-they-can-be-discharged-after-all/

Limitations on Exception to Discharge of Private Student Loans

Mark Kantrowitz

Publisher, FinAid.org
August 19, 2007

This document reviews the limitations on the exception to discharge of private student loans as encoded in the US Bankruptcy Code (11 USC 523(a)(8)) as amended by section 220 of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA), P.L. 109-8,
effective October 17, 2005.
These limitations stem from three aspects of the statute:
1. the definition of a "qualified education loan"
2. the nature of the association of the loan with a nonprofit institution
3. the exclusion for cases involving undue hardship
To be excepted from discharge, a debtor would either have to show that his or her education loan
was not a qualified education loan and was not funded by a nonprofit institution or that repaying
the loan would represent an undue hardship.
Qualified Education Loans
BAPCPA amended the US Bankruptcy Code to include "qualified education loans" within the
scope of the exception to discharge for education loans. Private student loans which are not
school certified generally do not satisfy the requirements to be considered a qualified education
loan. One must, however, review the specific circumstances of each loan to determine whether or
not it satisfies the requirements to be considered a qualified education loan.
The term "qualified education loan" is defined in 11 USC 523(a)(8)(B) by cross-reference to 26
USC 221(d)(1), which defines it in terms of other sections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
and the Higher Education Act of 1965, including definitions of "qualified higher education
expenses", "cost of attendance", "eligible educational institution" and "eligible student".
There are two major types of private student loans: those that are school certified and those that
are not school certified.
School certified loans generally satisfy the requirements of a "qualified education loan" because
the colleges enforce limits on the amount of debt that are consistent with the restrictions imposed
by 26 USC 221(d)(l), which in turn references the definition of cost of attendance in section 472
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 USC 1087ll).
Private student loans that are not school certified often deliberately circumvent these
requirements in order to lend money to students beyond the limits permitted by 26 USC
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221(d)(1) or for purposes not allowed by 26 USC 221(d)(1). For example, the overaward
regulations at 34 CFR 673.5 require colleges to treat the amount by which a private student loan
in combination with other non-need-based loans exceeds the expected family contribution (EFC)
as a resource, reducing eligibility for need-based aid. (One of the attractions of a non-school-
certified loan is the ability to borrow more than would otherwise be permitted on a school-
certified loan. Colleges are only required to adjust for an overaward caused by a private student
loan if they know about the education loan.)
Specifically, 34 CFR 673.5(c)(1)(xiii) defines estimated financial assistance as including "any
educational benefits paid because of enrollment in a postsecondary education institution, or to
cover postsecondary education expenses", which includes private student loans. The amount of
estimated financial assistance excludes amounts used to replace the EFC, per 34 CFR
673.5(c)(2)(iii): "Those amounts used to replace the EFC, including the amounts of any
unsubsidized Federal Stafford or Direct Loans, Federal PLUS or Federal Direct PLUS Loans,
and non-federal non-need-based loans, including private, state-sponsored, and institutional
loans." But amounts of non-need-based loans in excess of the EFC are not excluded from the
definition of estimated financial assistance, per 34 CFR 673.5(c)(2)(iii): "However, if the sum of
the loan amounts received that are being used to replace the student's EFC actually exceed the
EFC, the excess amount must be treated as estimated financial assistance". If estimated financial
assistance exceeds financial need (which is the difference between the cost of attendance and the
expected family contribution), the overaward regulations require certain forms of need-based aid
to be reduced.
These regulations parallel the definitions and requirements encoded into the Higher Education
Act of 1965 as specified in sections 471, 480(j), 428(a)(2)(C), 428H(c), 428H(d) and 443(b)(4).
Section 471 (20 U.S.C. 1087kk) defines financial need as the difference between the cost of
attendance and the expected family contribution and estimated financial assistance. Most federal
student aid programs are capped at financial need. Section 480(j)(1) defines estimated financial
assistance as including education loans:
For purposes of determining a student's eligibility for funds under this title,
estimated financial assistance not received under this title shall include all
scholarships, grants, loans, or other assistance known to the institution at the time
the determination of the student's need is made, including veterans' education
benefits as defined in subsection (c), and national service educational awards or
post-service benefits under title I of the National and Community Service Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.).
Although non-school-certified loans generally do not satisfy the requirements to be considered
qualified education loans, it is important to evaluate whether each individual loan satisfies those
requirements on a case-by-case basis. An education loan that is not school certified could still be
a qualified education loan if it did not exceed the limits of a qualified education loan and was not
disbursed for expenses outside the scope of a qualified education loan.
Some of the more common ways in which an education loan may fail to satisfy the requirements
of a qualified education loan include:
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1. Use at a college that is not a Title IV institution (i.e., a college that is subject to a program
participation agreement under 20 USC 1087ll).
2. Use for costs not included within the definition of cost of attendance or in excess of the
expected family contribution (or cost of attendance minus aid received).
3. Use for study abroad not approved for credit by the home institution.
4. Use for rental or purchase of equipment, materials or supplies that are not required by the
institution.
5. Use for purchase of a computer without obtaining an adjustment to cost of attendance
from the college for the cost of the computer.
6. Use for a previous year's school charges.
In order to be considered a "qualified education loan", an education loan must satisfy all of the
following requirements:
1. The debt must be incurred "by a debtor who is an individual", per 11 USC 523(a)(8)(B).
2. The debt must be "incurred solely to pay qualified higher education expenses", per 26
USC 221(d)(1) by cross-reference from 11 USC 523(a)(8)(B). Mixed used loans, such as
credit card debt or home equity loans, are not eligible, per example 6 of 26 CFR 1.221-
1(e)(4). Even education loans are not eligible if they are incurred to pay for expenses
other than qualified higher education expenses.
3. The debt must be incurred on behalf of a student who is either the debtor, the debtor's
spouse, or the debtor's dependent (eligible to be claimed as an exemption on the debtor's
income tax return, per 26 CFR 1.221-1(b)(2)) at the time the indebtedness was incurred,
per 26 USC 221(d)(1)(A) by cross-reference from 11 USC 523(a)(8)(B).
4. The debt must be "paid or incurred within a reasonable period of time before or after the
indebtedness is incurred", per 26 USC 221(d)(1)(B) by cross-reference from 11 USC
523(a)(8)(B). The regulations at 26 CFR 1.221-1(e)(3)(ii)(B) provide for a safe harbor of
90 days before or after the academic period to which the expenses relate. It is possible
that a longer period of time would still be considered reasonable based on the relevant
facts and circumstances, per 26 CFR 1.221-1(e)(3)(ii), but use of a loan to pay for a
previous year's school charges would generally not qualify unless there were extenuating
circumstances.
5. The debt must be "attributable to education furnished during a period during which the
recipient was an eligible student" per 26 USC 221(d)(1)(C) by cross-reference from 11
USC 523(a)(8)(B). To be an eligible student, the student must be enrolled at least half-
time in a Title IV institution and be degree-seeking. Study abroad is only eligible to the
extent that it is approved for credit by the home institution.
Specifically, eligible student is defined by 26 USC 221(d)(3) by cross-reference to 26
USC 25A(b)(3), which in turn requires the student to be enrolled on at least a half-time
basis and to fulfill the requirements of section 484(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 USC 1091(a)(1)). This requires the student to "be enrolled or accepted for
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enrollment in a degree, certificate, or other program (including a program of study abroad
approved for credit by the eligible institution at which such student is enrolled) leading to
a recognized educational credential at an institution of higher education that is an eligible
institution in accordance with the provisions of section 1094 of this title, except as
provided in subsections (b)(3) and (b)(4) of this section, and not be enrolled in an
elementary or secondary school".
The definition of qualified higher education expenses in 26 USC 221(d)(2) references 26
USC 25A(f)(2) for the definition of "eligible educational institution". This ultimately
requires the institution to be a Title IV institution. So the requirement that the institution
be a Title IV institution derives both from the definition of "eligible student" and the
definition of "qualified higher education expenses".
6. The debt may include any debt used to refinance a qualified education loan, per 26 USC
221(d)(1) by cross-reference from 11 USC 523(a)(8)(B).
7. The debt does not need to be a federally-guaranteed loan to qualify, per 26 CFR 1.221-
1(e)(3)(iv).
8. The debt may not be owed to a relative or borrowed from a qualified employer plan
(retirement plan), per 26 USC 221(d)(1) by cross-reference from 11 USC 523(a)(8)(B).
9. The debt must be used to pay "qualified higher education expenses", per 26 USC
221(d)(1) by cross-reference from 11 USC 523(a)(8)(B). This term is defined by 26 USC
221(d)(2) as the "cost of attendance" as defined by section 472 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 USC 1087ll) as in effect on August 4, 1997, reduced by educational
expenses paid certain other programs.
The intention of these double-dip provisions is to prevent the same education expenses
from being used to justify benefits under more than one education tax benefit. To the
extent that the education expenses were paid by another education tax benefit they are not
attributable to the qualified education debt. The specific reductions mentioned by 26 USC
221(d)(2) include amounts paid from employer tuition assistance (26 USC 127), US
Savings Bonds (26 USC 135), qualified tuition programs such as section 529 college
savings plans and prepaid tuition plans (26 USC 529), Coverdell education savings
accounts (26 USC 530), and scholarships, veterans education benefits or military student
aid, and other payments for education expenses or attributable to enrollment in an eligible
education institution which are excludable from gross income (26 USC 25A(g)(2)). The
latter includes the tuition & fees deduction (which is an exclusion from income) but not,
apparently, the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Tax Credit (which are tax
credits).
These definitions require the reduction of cost of attendance by most forms of student
aid, such as the Pell Grant, education loans and institutional aid. However, there may be a
little play in the joints between the reductions mentioned by 26 USC 221(d)(2) and the
definition of estimated financial assistance in section 480(j)(1) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965, such as Federal Work Study (which is not excluded from gross income). But
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for the most part the two definitions are consistent with each other.
The language in Section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 USC 1087ll)
requires cost of attendance to be "determined by the institution". While this doesn't
specifically require the education loan to be school certified, since the lender could
determine the cost of attendance from the institution's published student budget, any
amounts beyond the amounts in the student budget must be approved by the school in
advance. For example, while Section 472(2) of the Higher Education Act permits a
computer to be included in cost of attendance, the "as determined by the institution"
language provides the institution with the authority to determine whether or not the cost
of a computer is included in the cost of attendance. Most colleges do not include the cost
of a computer in the standard student budget, but instead have an appeals process for
adjusting the cost of attendance to include the actual cost of a computer subject to certain
limits, such as a reasonable cap on the cost and no more than one computer per
undergraduate career. If an education loan was incurred to pay for a computer without
the college approving an increase in the cost of attendance corresponding to the cost of
the computer, the loan is not a qualified education loan. Likewise, if an education loan is
incurred for purposes not permitted by the cost of attendance, it is not a qualified
education loan. For example, equipment must be required by the institution to be
considered part of the cost of attendance under section 472(1) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965. If an education loan is incurred to purchase a cell phone, iPod, calculator,
camera, PDA or other equipment that is not "required of all students in the same course
of study", the loan is not a qualified education loan. Similarly, although section 472(2) of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 includes "transportation" within the definition of cost
of attendance, this does not permit the purchase of an automobile or motorcycle. The
specific language is for "an allowance for ... transportation ... as determined by the
institution".
Thus an education loan which exceeds the remaining cost of attendance (after reducing it
by other aid received and expenses paid with funds from certain education tax benefits)
would not be considered a qualified education loan.
If an education loan fails to satisfy any of these requirements, it is not considered a qualified
education loan within the meaning of 11 USC 523(a)(8) and hence may be subject to discharge
in a bankruptcy proceeding.
Association with a Nonprofit Institution
11 USC 523(a)(8)(A)(i) excepts from discharge any education loan "made under any program
funded in whole or in part" by a nonprofit institution. This exception is limited to loans funded
by the nonprofit institution. Loans guaranteed by a nonprofit institution are not excepted from
discharge by virtue of the nonprofit nature of the institution (but might be excepted from
discharge as a qualified education loan under 11 USC 523(a)(8)(B)). This becomes clear when
one examines the full context of the language in 11 USC 523(a)(8)(A)(i), which has two clauses:
an educational benefit overpayment or loan made, insured, or guaranteed by a
governmental unit,
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or made under any program funded in whole or in part by a governmental unit or
nonprofit institution
The first clause excepts from discharge any loan made, insured or guaranteed by a government
unit (including the federal government and state agencies), regardless of the source of funds. The
second clause does not include parallel language for "insured or guaranteed", but rather just
language concerning the funding of the loans. This is a clear indication that Congress did not
intend to except from discharge loans that were guaranteed by a nonprofit institution, but rather
just those funded by a nonprofit institution.
Thus a private student loan that is funded by a nonprofit institution is excepted from discharge,
but not a private student loan that is guaranteed or insured by a nonprofit institution.
A recent bankruptcy case in Massachusetts, Taratuska v. TERI (Chapter 7 Case 01-10361-RS,
Adversary Proceeding 05-1653, August 16, 2007) used similar reasoning to find that a private
student loan guaranteed by TERI was not excepted from discharge. The judge’s decision
involved several nuances:
Although the statute requires the program to be funded by the nonprofit institution and
not the loan, the judge concluded that funding a program means “advancing funds for a
loan or loans under that program”. The judge rejected the contention that guaranteeing a
loan constitutes funding the program, in part because a guarantee does not mean
advancing funding but rather only payment upon a possible future default.
The judge made the same argument regarding the terminology used in the two clauses,
finding “Notably, the statute employs both terms, plainly indicating that they have
different meanings; otherwise, one or the other would be unnecessary.”
Marketing of a loan program by a nonprofit institution does not constitute funding that
program or making of loans under that program.
Commingling of nonprofit and commercial student loans in a single program appellation
without regard for the different attributes of the loans does not constitute a program
funded by a nonprofit institution because it unfairly “converts dischargeable commercial
student loans into non-dischargeable commercial student loans” solely as a consequence
of the classification system and “for reasons having little to do with the loan itself”. The
judge’s decision would require separate discrete classifications for nonprofit and
commercial student loans. (This is the weakest aspect of the judge’s decision. One could
argue that lumping together multiple distinct loan types into a single loan program is
consistent with the statutory language that focuses on funding of a loan program as
opposed to funding of a loan. However, a loan program should exhibit a degree of
cohesiveness as is exhibited by the Stafford Loan Program or the PLUS Loan Program It
is worth noting that this clause was most likely intended to except Perkins Loans
(formerly, National Direct Student Loan Program) from discharge and not private student
loans.)
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Undue Hardship
11 USC 523(a)(8) allows any education loan to be subject to discharge if excepting such debt
from discharge "would impose an undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor's dependents".
Most court cases cite Brunner v. New York State Higher Education Services Corp. [October 14,
1987, #41, Docket 87-5013] for a definition of "undue hardship". That decision adopted the
following three-part standard for undue hardship:
1. That the debtor cannot both repay the student loan and maintain a minimal standard of
living.
2. That this situation is likely to persist for a significant portion of the repayment period of
the student loans.
3. That the debtor has made good faith efforts to repay the loans.
In practice the first element usually involves evaluating what the monthly payment would be
under the Income Contingent Repayment plan. This repayment plan uses two caps on the
monthly payment, one based on the poverty line and one based on income percentage factors.
The first cap is 20% of the amount by which income exceeds 100% of the poverty line for the
family size. The second cap is the amount of the monthly payment for 12-year level repayment
multiplied by an income percentage factor that ranges from 50% to 200% depending on income.
For most bankruptcy cases the first cap is the most salient. There is also a $5 minimum monthly
payment. If repaying the education loans under the income contingent repayment plan precludes
the debtor from maintaining a minimal standard of living, the education debt is potentially
subject to discharge, assuming that the other two elements of Brunner v. NY HESC apply. In
some cases courts have selectively discharged education loans until the total remaining fell under
the threshold established by the first element.
However, Section 418 of BAPCPA established fee waiver provisions for a chapter 7 filing when
the individual debtor has income less than 150 percent of the poverty line for the family size and
is unable to pay the fee in installments. This could potentially lead to a situation in which a
debtor qualifies for a bankruptcy fee waiver yet has education loans not dischargable under an
undue hardship petition if the debtor's income is greater than 100% of the poverty line but less
than 150% of the poverty line.
One could argue that both standards should apply when determining whether a debtor cannot
repay the student loans and still maintain a minimal standard of living. Specifically, if the
debtor's income falls below 150% of the poverty line, the education debt should be subject to
discharge, and if the debtor's income is greater than or equal to 150% of the poverty line, then
the standard established by income contingent repayment should apply with regard to the amount
of debt.
In fact, the 110th Congress has recognized this flaw and passed legislation to establish a new
Income-Based Repayment plan with a new cap on monthly payments based on 15% of the
amount by which adjusted gross income exceeds 150% of the poverty line for the family size
(H.R. 2669). The legislation has passed both the House and Senate, and is currently in
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conference. The House legislation, the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, would establish
income-based repayment in addition to income-contingent repayment, while the Senate
legislation, the Higher Education Access Act of 2007, would replace income-contingent
repayment with income-based repayment.
The second element usually requires the debtor to demonstrate exceptional circumstances that
will preclude repaying the debt for most of the repayment term, such as a disability. An inability
to work in one's chosen profession is not sufficient, if it does not preclude being able to work in
another field.
The third element usually involves examining whether the borrower made an attempt to repay
the debt and whether the borrower tried using forbearances and the economic hardship deferment
before defaulting on the debt.
Pending Legislation
Legislation introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (S.1561) would roll back the changes
introduced by BAPCPA by striking the exception for qualified education loans. It would also
repeal the exception for loans funded by nonprofit institutions.
Legislation introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton (S. 511), the Student Borrower Bill of Rights
Act of 2007, would restore the pre-1998 language which allowed for a discharge of education
loans after seven years in repayment.
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Appendix: Legislative and Regulatory Citations
11 USC 523(a)(8):
Section 523. Exceptions to discharge
(a) A discharge under section 727, 1141, 1228(a), 1228(b), or 1328(b)
of this title does not discharge an individual debtor from any
debt--
...
(8) unless excepting such debt from discharge under this paragraph
would impose an undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor's
dependents, for --
(A) (i) an educational benefit overpayment or loan made,
insured, or guaranteed by a governmental unit, or made under
any program funded in whole or in part by a governmental unit
or nonprofit institution; or
(ii) an obligation to repay funds received as an educational
benefit, scholarship, or stipend; or
(B) any other educational loan that is a qualified education
loan, as defined in section 221(d)(1) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, incurred by a debtor who is an
individual;
26 USC 221(d):
Definitions
For purposes of this section --
(1) Qualified education loan
The term "qualified education loan" means any indebtedness incurred
by the taxpayer solely to pay qualified higher education expenses –
(A) which are incurred on behalf of the taxpayer, the taxpayer’s
spouse, or any dependent of the taxpayer as of the time the
indebtedness was incurred,
(B) which are paid or incurred within a reasonable period of time
before or after the indebtedness is incurred, and
(C) which are attributable to education furnished during a period
during which the recipient was an eligible student.
Such term includes indebtedness used to refinance indebtedness which
qualifies as a qualified education loan. The term "qualified education
loan" shall not include any indebtedness owed to a person who is related
(within the meaning of section 267 (b) or 707 (b)(1)) to the taxpayer or
to any person by reason of a loan under any qualified employer plan (as
defined in section 72 (p)(4)) or under any contract referred to in
section 72 (p)(5).
(2) Qualified higher education expenses
The term "qualified higher education expenses" means the cost of
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attendance (as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1087ll, as in effect on the day before the date
of the enactment of this Act) at an eligible educational institution,
reduced by the sum of –
(A) the amount excluded from gross income under section 127, 135,
529, or 530 by reason of such expenses, and
(B) the amount of any scholarship, allowance, or payment described
in section 25A (g)(2).
For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term "eligible educational
institution" has the same meaning given such term by section 25A(f)(2),
except that such term shall also include an institution conducting an
internship or residency program leading to a degree or certificate
awarded by an institution of higher education, a hospital, or a health
care facility which offers postgraduate training.
(3) Eligible student
The term "eligible student" has the meaning given such term by section
25A(b)(3).
(4) Dependent
The term "dependent" has the meaning given such term by section 152
(determined without regard to subsections (b)(1), (b)(2), and (d)(1)(B)
thereof).
Section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 USC 1087ll):
Cost of attendance
For the purpose of this subchapter and part C of subchapter I of chapter 34
of title 42, the term "cost of attendance" means --
(1) tuition and fees normally assessed a student carrying the same academic
workload as determined by the institution, and including costs for
rental or purchase of any equipment, materials, or supplies required of
all students in the same course of study;
(2) an allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous
personal expenses, including a reasonable allowance for the documented
rental or purchase of a personal computer, for a student attending the
institution on at least a half-time basis, as determined by the
institution;
(3) an allowance (as determined by the institution) for room and board
costs incurred by the student which –
(A) shall be an allowance determined by the institution for a student
without dependents residing at home with parents;
(B) for students without dependents residing in institutionally owned
or operated housing, shall be a standard allowance determined by
the institution based on the amount normally assessed most of its
residents for room and board; and
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(C) for all other students shall be an allowance based on the expenses
reasonably incurred by such students for room and board;
(4) for less than half-time students (as determined by the institution)
tuition and fees and an allowance for only books, supplies, and
transportation (as determined by the institution) and dependent care
expenses (in accordance with paragraph (8));
(5) for a student engaged in a program of study by correspondence, only
tuition and fees and, if required, books and supplies, travel, and room
and board costs incurred specifically in fulfilling a required period
of residential training;
(6) for incarcerated students only tuition and fees and, if required, books
and supplies;
(7) for a student enrolled in an academic program in a program of study
abroad approved for credit by the student’s home institution,
reasonable costs associated with such study (as determined by the
institution at which such student is enrolled);
(8) for a student with one or more dependents, an allowance based on the
estimated actual expenses incurred for such dependent care, based on
the number and age of such dependents, except that –
(A) such allowance shall not exceed the reasonable cost in the
community in which such student resides for the kind of care
provided; and
(B) the period for which dependent care is required includes, but is
not limited to, class-time, study-time, field work, internships,
and commuting time;
(9) for a student with a disability, an allowance (as determined by the
institution) for those expenses related to the student’s disability,
including special services, personal assistance, transportation,
equipment, and supplies that are reasonably incurred and not provided
for by other assisting agencies;
(10) for a student receiving all or part of the student’s instruction by
means of telecommunications technology, no distinction shall be made
with respect to the mode of instruction in determining costs;
(11) for a student engaged in a work experience under a cooperative
education program, an allowance for reasonable costs associated with
such employment (as determined by the institution); and
(12) for a student who receives a loan under this or any other Federal law,
or, at the option of the institution, a conventional student loan
incurred by the student to cover a student’s cost of attendance at the
institution, an allowance for the actual cost of any loan fee,
origination fee, or insurance premium charged to such student or such
parent on such loan, or the average cost of any such fee or premium
charged by the Secretary, lender, or guaranty agency making or insuring
such loan, as the case may be.
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26 USC 25A(b)(3):
Eligible student
For purposes of this subsection, the term "eligible student" means, with
respect to any academic period, a student who –
(A) meets the requirements of section 484(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1091 (a)(1)), as in effect on the date of the
enactment of this section, and
(B) is carrying at least 1/2 the normal full-time work load for the course of
study the student is pursuing.
Section 484(a)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 USC 1091(a)(1)):
be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree, certificate, or other
program (including a program of study abroad approved for credit by the
eligible institution at which such student is enrolled) leading to a
recognized educational credential at an institution of higher education that
is an eligible institution in accordance with the provisions of section 1094
of this title, except as provided in subsections (b)(3) and (b)(4) of this
section, and not be enrolled in an elementary or secondary school;
26 CFR 1.221-1(e):
Definitions –
(1) Eligible educational institution. In general, an eligible educational
institution means any college, university, vocational school, or other
postsecondary educational institution described in section 481 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088), as in effect on August 5,
1997, and certified by the U.S. Department of Education as eligible to
participate in student aid programs administered by the Department, as
described in section 25A(f)(2) and §1.25A-2(b). For purposes of this
section, an eligible educational institution also includes an institution
that conducts an internship or residency program leading to a degree or
certificate awarded by an institution, a hospital, or a health care
facility that offers postgraduate training.
(2) Qualified higher education expenses --
(i) In general. Qualified higher education expenses means the cost of
attendance (as defined in section 472 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1087ll, as in effect on August 4, 1997), at an
eligible educational institution, reduced by the amounts described
in paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section. Consistent with section
472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, a student's cost of
attendance is determined by the eligible educational institution
and includes tuition and fees normally assessed a student carrying
the same academic workload as the student, an allowance for room
and board, and an allowance for books, supplies, transportation,
and miscellaneous expenses of the student.
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(ii) Reductions. Qualified higher education expenses are reduced by any
amount that is paid to or on behalf of a student with respect to
such expenses and that is--
(A) A qualified scholarship that is excludable from income under
section 117;
(B) An educational assistance allowance for a veteran or member of
the armed forces under chapter 30, 31, 32, 34 or 35 of title
38, United States Code, or under chapter 1606 of title 10,
United States Code;
(C) Employer-provided educational assistance that is excludable
from income under section 127;
(D) Any other amount that is described in section 25A(g)(2)(C)
(relating to amounts excludable from gross income as
educational assistance);
(E) Any otherwise includible amount excluded from gross income
under section 135 (relating to the redemption of United States
savings bonds);
(F) Any otherwise includible amount distributed from a Coverdell
education savings account and excluded from gross income under
section 530(d)(2); or
(G) Any otherwise includible amount distributed from a qualified
tuition program and excluded from gross income under section
529(c)(3)(B).
(3) Qualified education loan –
(i) In general. A qualified education loan means indebtedness incurred
by a taxpayer solely to pay qualified higher education expenses
that are--
(A) Incurred on behalf of a student who is the taxpayer, the
taxpayer's spouse, or a dependent (as defined in section 152)
of the taxpayer at the time the taxpayer incurs the
indebtedness;
(B) Attributable to education provided during an academic period,
as described in section 25A and the regulations thereunder,
when the student is an eligible student as defined in section
25A(b)(3) (requiring that the student be a degree candidate
carrying at least half the normal full-time workload); and
(C) Paid or incurred within a reasonable period of time before or
after the taxpayer incurs the indebtedness.
(ii) Reasonable period. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph
(e)(3)(ii), what constitutes a reasonable period of time for
purposes of paragraph (e)(3)(i)(C) of this section generally is
determined based on all the relevant facts and circumstances.
However, qualified higher education expenses are treated as paid or
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incurred within a reasonable period of time before or after the
taxpayer incurs the indebtedness if--
(A) The expenses are paid with the proceeds of education loans
that are part of a Federal postsecondary education loan
program; or
(B) The expenses relate to a particular academic period and the
loan proceeds used to pay the expenses are disbursed within a
period that begins 90 days prior to the start of that academic
period and ends 90 days after the end of that academic period.
(iii) Related party. A qualified education loan does not include any
indebtedness owed to a person who is related to the taxpayer,
within the meaning of section 267(b) or 707(b)(1). For example, a
parent or grandparent of the taxpayer is a related person. In
addition, a qualified education loan does not include a loan made
under any qualified employer plan as defined in section 72(p)(4) or
under any contract referred to in section 72(p)(5).
(iv) Federal issuance or guarantee not required. A loan does not have to
be issued or guaranteed under a Federal postsecondary education
loan program to be a qualified education loan.
(v) Refinanced and consolidated indebtedness –
(A) In general. A qualified education loan includes indebtedness
incurred solely to refinance a qualified education loan. A
qualified education loan includes a single, consolidated
indebtedness incurred solely to refinance two or more
qualified education loans of a borrower.
(B) Treatment of refinanced and consolidated indebtedness.
[Reserved]
(4) Examples. The following examples illustrate the rules of this paragraph
(e):
Example 1. Eligible educational institution. University F is a
postsecondary educational institution described in section 481 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965. The U.S. Department of Education has
certified that University F is eligible to participate in federal
financial aid programs administered by that Department, although
University F chooses not to participate. University F is an eligible
educational institution.
Example 2. Qualified higher education expenses. Student G receives a
$3,000 qualified scholarship for the 2003 fall semester that is
excludable from Student G's gross income under section 117. Student G
receives no other forms of financial assistance with respect to the 2003
fall semester. Student G's cost of attendance for the 2003 fall semester,
as determined by Student G's eligible educational institution for
purposes of calculating a student's financial need in accordance with
section 472 of the Higher Education Act, is $16,000. For the 2003 fall
semester, Student G has qualified higher education expenses of $13,000
(the cost of attendance as determined by the institution ($16,000)
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reduced by the qualified scholarship proceeds excludable from gross
income ($3,000)).
Example 3. Qualified education loan. Student H borrows money from a
commercial bank to pay qualified higher education expenses related to his
enrollment on a half-time basis in a graduate program at an eligible
educational institution. Student H uses all the loan proceeds to pay
qualified higher education expenses incurred within a reasonable period
of time after incurring the indebtedness. The loan is not federally
guaranteed. The commercial bank is not related to Student H within the
meaning of section 267(b) or 707(b)(1). Student H's loan is a qualified
education loan within the meaning of section 221.
Example 4. Qualified education loan. Student I signs a promissory note
for a loan on August 15, 2003, to pay for qualified higher education
expenses for the 2003 fall and 2004 spring semesters. On August 20, 2003,
the lender disburses loan proceeds to Student I's college. The college
credits them to Student I's account to pay qualified higher education
expenses for the 2003 fall semester, which begins on August 25, 2003. On
January 26, 2004, the lender disburses additional loan proceeds to
Student I's college. The college credits them to Student I's account to
pay qualified higher education expenses for the 2004 spring semester,
which began on January 12, 2004. Student I's qualified higher education
expenses for the two semesters are paid within a reasonable period of
time, as the first loan disbursement occurred within the 90 days prior to
the start of the fall 2003 semester and the second loan disbursement
occurred during the spring 2004 semester.
Example 5. Qualified education loan. The facts are the same as in
Example 4 except that in 2005 the college is not an eligible educational
institution because it loses its eligibility to participate in certain
federal financial aid programs administered by the U.S. Department of
Education. The qualification of Student I's loan, which was used to pay
for qualified higher education expenses for the 2003 fall and 2004 spring
semesters, as a qualified education loan is not affected by the college's
subsequent loss of eligibility.
Example 6. Mixed-use loans. Student J signs a promissory note for a
loan secured by Student J's personal residence. Student J will use part
of the loan proceeds to pay for certain improvements to Student J's
residence and part of the loan proceeds to pay qualified higher education
expenses of Student J's spouse. Because Student J obtains the loan not
solely to pay qualified higher education expenses, the loan is not a
qualified education loan.
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Hey, if this could be true, this needs to be in the before filing bankruptcy part, not in the after bk. I'm gonna post it there...

I have a question about Sallie Mae. I just made my last Chap 13 plan payment...#36! I know Sallie Mae was not paid in the plan but they were listed. I thought the interest would be put on hold during these 13 months but after reading this site, I am afraid that it might not have been. What do you think? I know I am going to call them soon. In reading this board, I believe a realistic discharge date would be in about 4 months--correct?
I stumbled on this site just a few weeks ago as I was thinking of rebuilding credit after discharge. Wish I had found it sooner!

That's all fine and dandy, but the thing is, when it comes to student loans, the burden is on the debtor to file the adversary proceeding and demonstrate that the loan is dischargeable.

Ok, Career Training Loan from Sallie Mae, but this $10,000 loan was used for: 60% business equipment bought from the 'training 'company (American Home Inspection Training) and the 40% left over for business expenses. It doesn't sound like this is a qualified student loan. I'm getting ready to file Chapter 7. Do you think this is dischargable?