PSLF Calculator 2026

Track your progress toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness and estimate when your loans will be forgiven.

Your PSLF Information

$

Total across all loans being tracked for PSLF

$

Must be enrolled in qualifying repayment plan

Out of 120 payments needed

Years working for qualifying employer

Your Progress

Payments Made: 0/120
0%

Remaining Payments

96

Est. Forgiveness Date

--

Total You Will Pay

--

Amount to be Forgiven

--

Payment Progress Over Time

Eligibility Requirements

  • ✓ Qualifying Employer: Federal, state, local government, or 501(c)(3) non-profit
  • ✓ Qualifying Plan: PAYE, REPAYE, IBR, or Standard 10-year plan
  • ✓ Loan Type: Federal direct loans (not PLUS or private loans)
  • ✓ 120 Payments: Full-time employment required
  • ✓ Certification: Annual PSLF form submission (PSLF Form or ECF)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • ✗ Wrong Plan: Standard or old income-based plans don't count
  • ✗ Wrong Loan Type: PLUS loans and private loans are ineligible
  • ✗ Skipped Certification: Missing annual PSLF form submission
  • ✗ Job Change Issues: Changing employers can reset eligibility
  • ✗ Part-time Work: Less than full-time hours don't count

Understanding PSLF

What is PSLF?

Public Service Loan Forgiveness forgives the remaining balance on Direct loans after you've made 120 qualifying payments while employed full-time by a qualifying employer.

Who Qualifies?

Federal, state, or local government employees and employees of 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations working full-time.

Tax Implications

The forgiven amount is not considered taxable income as of 2026, a significant benefit compared to other forgiveness programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?

PSLF forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you make 120 qualifying monthly payments (10 years) while working full-time for a qualifying employer such as government agencies, nonprofits, or other public service organizations.

Who qualifies for PSLF?

You must work full-time (30+ hours/week) for a qualifying employer, have Direct Loans (or consolidate into Direct Loans), be on a qualifying repayment plan (income-driven plans like RAP or IBR), and make 120 qualifying payments.

Why do so many PSLF applications get rejected?

Common reasons include: wrong loan type (FFEL instead of Direct), wrong repayment plan (Standard instead of income-driven), payments made while not working for a qualifying employer, and incomplete employment certification forms. Use the PSLF Help Tool at studentaid.gov to check your eligibility.

Do my 120 payments need to be consecutive?

No. The 120 qualifying payments do not need to be consecutive. If you leave public service and later return, your previous qualifying payments still count. However, payments made while not employed by a qualifying employer do not count.

Is PSLF forgiveness taxable?

No. Under current law, PSLF forgiveness is not considered taxable income. This is a significant advantage over other income-driven repayment forgiveness, which may be taxable depending on the year and applicable law.

Does this calculator collect my personal data?

No. All calculations are performed in your browser. We do not collect, store, or share any personal or financial information.