[–] uvulectomy 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

$30k was a quick guesstimate, but here's how it works. When debt is forgiven or cancelled, the creditor sends you a Form 1099-C for that amount. It's treated as income for the year, and is therefore taxable.

The 2019-2020 tax brackets for single individuals is as follows.

Amount Tax Rate
Up to $9,700 10%
$9,701 - $39,475 12%
$39,476 - $84,200 22%
$84,201 - $160,725 24%
$160,726 - $204,100 32%
$204,101 - $510,300 35%
Over $510,300 37%

So to figure out how much in taxes you pay, you take your taxable income and divide it up into those brackets. The first $9,700 is taxed at 10%, the amount between $9,701 and $39,475 is taxed at 12%, and so on. So for $100,000 in taxable income, that equates to a tax bill of $18,174.28 or roughly 18%.

However, that's if that $100k forgiven loan is their only income for the year. But that taxable income is added to all other taxable income they have. So if they're making $100k/year in taxable income in SFO doing some liberal-arts shit (and $100k is barely getting by because cost of living is obscene in that shit-hole), that means their total taxable income for the year is $200,000. In that case, their tax bill is $45,585.96 or about 22.8%

According to the IRS, the only exceptions for student debt forgiveness are:

  • Certain qualified student loans canceled under the loan provisions that the loans would be canceled if you work for a certain period of time in certain professions for a broad class of employers

  • Certain other education loan repayment or loan forgiveness programs to help provide health services in certain areas.

The vast majority would likely not fall under these exceptions, so that 1099-C income would be taxable. Sure there are deductions and whatnot that I'm not factoring in, but the point is that if they have their loan forgiven, it's treated as if they suddenly made a lot more money that year, even if they never saw or spent a dime of that amount. And the IRS will want a piece of that.

[–] HeavyBrain ago 

It's treated as income for the year, and is therefore taxable

Well shit.

Not sure how it works here, propably similar but I know for sure that stuff like college debts wouldn't factor into it, even for the reason jsut because the gov called/ treated them differntly.

Well shit US liberals be careful waht you wish for or change the tax code beforehand, but I doubt that too many of them will consider this.