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The Ultimate Guide to IDR Applications: What Changed and What Didn't

Fact checked by Betsy PetrickDjelicS / Getty ImagesThe United States Department of Education reopened the application for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans on March 26, 2025, after having suspended it in February. While applying for an IDR plan might be worth it for people with limited incomes or hefty loan balances, IDR might not be the right choice if you've nearly finished repaying your federal student loan debt or can afford the standard repayment plan.Key TakeawaysApplications for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans were suspended in February 2025 but have since reopened.The SAVE plan is no longer an option, but you can choose from Income-Based Repayment (IBR), Pay as You Earn (PAYE), and Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR).Congress has proposed a new repayment plan, called the Repayment Assistance Plan, which would eliminate all other IDR options.The State of IDR PlansWhile the Saving for a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan is listed as a repayment option on the FSA's website, it's not actually available. A U.S. appeals court blocked the plan, and it's unlikely to be revived under the current administration. That said, you can still apply for the following income-driven repayment (IDR) options:Income-Based Repayment (IBR): Payments are based on 10% or 15% of your discretionary income and the repayment period is 20 or 25 years (depending on when you took out your loans).Pay as You Earn (PAYE): Payments are 10% of your discretionary income and repayment lasts 20 years.Income-Contingent Repayment (ICR): Payments are 20% of your discretionary income and repayment lasts 25 years.ImportantIf you're one of the 8 million borrowers who were enrolled in the SAVE plan, be aware that your loans were automatically placed into an interest-free forbearance in July 2024. You'll remain in forbearance until the Department of Education determines what to do with the plan.If you're concerned about whether these plans will remain unchanged in the years to come, the IBR plan may be your best bet. Since it was established by Congress, any alterations would require Congressional approval.The Potential Future of IDR PlansWhile the SAVE plan is essentially dead, the other IDR plans may yet still change. Most notably, Congress has proposed replacing the existing IDR plans with something called the Repayment Assistance Plan.Under this proposed plan, loan forgiveness would only be available after 30 years of qualifying monthly payments. With the Repayment Assistance Plan, monthly payments would be based on a borrower's total adjusted gross income (AGI).All current repayment options would be maintained for borrowers with loans disbursed before July 1, 2026, except for the ICR plan, which would be terminated. Borrowers enrolled in an ICR plan would be transferred into a revised version of the IBR plan.Under the modified IBR plan, payments for loans disbursed after July 1, 2014, would be raised to 15% of the borrower's discretionary income; the standard repayment cap and partial financial hardship requirement would both be eliminated, and the repayment term would now be based on whether you're an undergraduate or graduate borrower.Is It Worth Applying?Whether or not you should apply for an IDR plan entirely depends on your personal financial situation and goals. For instance, a low-income borrower or someone who's just lost their job could greatly benefit from the lower monthly payments.On the other hand, an IDR plan might not make the best financial sense for someone with sufficient earnings and who can afford payments under the standard repayment plan. In this scenario, you'd risk paying more in interest on an IDR plan due to your higher discretionary income and the longer repayment term. It's also probably not worth it if your student loan balance is low and you're managing the repayments without issue.If you think you'd benefit from applying for an IDR plan, keep in mind that your options might change if the proposed modifications to the current plans are rolled out. For instance, if you take out student loans on or after July 1, 2026, there may only be one IDR plan available to you. Meanwhile, if your loans were or would be disbursed before July 1, 2026, then you may not have access to the ICR plan in the future, and the terms of the IBR plan could different than they are now.Since borrowers were unable to submit their recertification information while IDR applications were unavailable, the deadline for recertification has been extended to February 2026 (if your recertification date was originally on or after March 18, 2025, or if your recertification date was on or after March 17, 2025, you submitted your recertification form on or before Feb. 20, 2025; and your servicer failed to process your request).The Bottom LineStudent loan repayment has never been more confusing, which is why it's important to monitor your student loans and keep detailed records of your payments. Additionally, don't hesitate to contact your loan servicer with any questions you have about IDR plans. You also can reach out to your school's financial aid office for information about your loans and to discuss your repayment options.
Unpacking the SBA's Involvement in Student Debt Management: What You Need to Know

Fact checked by Ward WilliamsChip Somodevilla / Staff / Getty Images Exterior of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) headquarters.On March 21, President Trump announced that the United States Department of Education's portfolio of student loans would be transferred to the Small Business Administration (SBA). Moving this portfolio, currently totaling nearly $1.7 trillion, means that federal student loan borrowers would be making payments to and relying on the SBA for support. While Trump said the transfer would take place "immediately," the change would first require Congressional approval. Meanwhile, the move could ultimately make it harder for borrowers to manage their loans, especially given that the SBA also announced on March 21 it would cut 43% of its staff.Key TakeawaysThe Trump administration wants the SBA to manage the federal student debt portfolio. The transfer aims to streamline loan management but faces significant challenges.Borrowers may experience disruptions in loan servicing and repayment.Critics have expressed concerns about the SBA's capacity to manage such a large portfolio.Background on SBA and Student DebtAs the name implies, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provides services to small businesses, including by backing business loans offered through partner lenders. The SBA was also tasked with handling COVID-19 relief programs; as a result, it went from managing a portfolio of $143 billion pre-pandemic to administering over $1.2 trillion in aid.NoteThe SBA largely acts as a loan facilitator, rather than a direct lender.Yet the COVID Lending Programs were rife with issues, including an estimated $200 billion in suspected distributions to fraudulent recipients. Part of the issue may have been that the SBA lacked sufficient capacity to handle the new workload, with the agency having to quickly hire contractors for processing and underwriting support. However, contractor errors, such as failing to verify bank account and address information, may have contributed to tens of billions in fraud.Challenges Facing the SBAConsidering the SBA already struggled to manage pandemic-era relief, giving it an even larger amount of money to oversee while cutting 43% of its staff could prove to be logistically challenging.Even if the SBA were sufficiently staffed, its employees likely wouldn’t have prior experience managing the different student loan programs and repayment plans. This inexperience may introduce a greater risk of payment errors and longer wait times for those seeking customer support. Some borrowers may even have their monthly payments and/or interest rates erroneously raised, or their payments might be incorrectly recorded and their credit harmed."This can only result in borrowers experiencing erratic and inconsistent management of their federal student loans. Errors will prove costly to borrowers and, ultimately, to taxpayers," said Jessica Thompson, senior vice president of the Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), in a statement.The Bottom LineWhile it’s difficult to say exactly what will happen if the federal student loan portfolio is transferred to the SBA, there’s a reasonable concern that the agency currently lacks sufficient staff and experience to adequately administer such a large amount of debt.The Trump administration may overcome these potential stumbling blocks by switching federal student loans from a direct lending model to one where loans are guaranteed by the government but issued by private lenders, similar to how the SBA handles the bulk of its business lending. If that's the direction the government decides to go, it could also mean the end of certain benefits of federal student loans, such as access to debt forgiveness and discharge programs.
How to Retire When You Own a Business

Fact checked by Suzanne KvilhaugMoMo Productions / Getty Images Small business owners may rely on their business as a retirement plan, but it's important to save on your own.Business owners have a special opportunity when planning for their financial future—when the time comes to retire, they can sell their business and combine those proceeds with money that they've been saving over the years in a retirement account.However, some business owners discover that when it’s time to retire, they haven’t planned carefully enough (or at all) for life after owning a business.Unlike employees with pensions or 401(k)s, entrepreneurs need to navigate saving for retirement as they grow their business and plan for their exit.They also need to develop a tax-smart retirement savings withdrawal plan that aligns with their business exit and retirement. Otherwise, both personal and professional goals can slip out of reach.Here's what business owners need to know to avoid common planning pitfalls and to retire on their own terms.Key TakeawaysBusiness owners should always build personal retirement savings as they build their business to avoid relying solely on proceeds from the sale of their company when they retire.Retirement accounts such as SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, and Solo 401(k)s offer flexible saving and investing options for entrepreneurs with different goals.Creating the right business exit strategy early can help maximize the value of a sale, minimize taxes, and ensure a smooth transition.Set Your Retirement GoalsAs an entrepreneur, understanding your personal vision for retirement—whether it incorporates travel, family support, or philanthropy—makes it easier to create a financial roadmap that isn't tied entirely to a future sale of your business.Set your retirement goals based on this vision, and work toward them by both, building your business and adding to your savings consistently."Many business owners overestimate the value of their business and delay saving outside of it," says Christopher Stroup, founder of Silicon Beach Financial.He says you should treat business and personal goals as “two parallel tracks.” Saving separately ensures you're retiring by choice, not because the business demands it.Chris Diodato, CFP and founder of WELLth Financial Planning, echoes this. "It’s paramount to have at least some separate funds not associated with the business earmarked for retirement savings," he said.Choose the Right Retirement AccountBusiness owners have several powerful retirement savings options. For those running solo, SEP IRAs and Solo 401(k)s offer high contribution limits with low costs and minimal administrative hassle.In 2025, individuals can contribute up to $23,500 to a solo 401(k).“For self-employed people, an individual 401(k) is often the most attractive option," says Justin Pritchard, founder of Approach Financial.Solo 401(k)s allow you to choose between pretax and Roth contributions, and even offer features like plan loans and mega backdoor Roth strategies, Pritchard notes.For businesses with employees, SIMPLE IRAs and traditional 401(k)s are common. However, Diodato warns that SIMPLE IRAs have "too low" contribution limits for ambitious savers. Diodato often recommends SEP IRAs for their simplicity.As a business owner, you'll need to evaluate and weigh the flexibility, employee needs, and contribution goals to help pick the right fit for you.Build a Business Exit StrategyWithout an exit plan, business owners risk having to sell in a rush—or for less than their company is worth."Start early, ideally three to five years before exit," Stroup advises. Good exit planning includes determining a good business valuation, having a clear succession or sale strategy, and considering your preferred timeline for retirement.“A carefully planned exit strategy can maximize a business sale price, minimize tax frictions, and keep clients happy through a smooth and long-term transition period," says Diodato.Whether selling to employees, a competitor, or passing the business to family, early planning creates better outcomes and more peace of mind.If you have questions or need guidance, work with an expert to navigate your business exit.Avoid Tax SurprisesSelling a business and tapping retirement accounts are taxable events, but proactive planning can soften the tax blow.For example, spreading sale income over multiple years, using installment sales, or structuring deals strategically can lower taxes, Diodato says.Stroup also recommends exploring long-term capital gains treatment or qualified small business stock exclusions where possible.After retirement, strategic Roth conversions and tax-efficient withdrawals can help preserve more of your wealth.If you have a traditional individual retirement account (IRA), which has required minimum distributions (RMD), take just that amount to limit your tax bill and to keep as much money as possible growing tax-deferred.Plus, work consider working with a financial advisor to iron out the specifics, like the best age to retire, when to start collecting your Social Security benefits (e.g., at full retirement age, early, or at age 70) and how to avoid outliving your savings.Income SpreadingIncome spreading is a common strategy that some high-income earners use to lower tax bills. If you sell a business and agree to an installment sale (meaning you receive at least one or more payments after the tax year in which the sale occurred), you might be able to spread the taxable income across multiple tax years instead of paying it all at once.The Bottom LineRetiring when you own a business isn’t just about selling at the right time, it’s about planning carefully, saving wisely, and staying flexible.Starting building your personal retirement savings early, select the right retirement account, find an advisor your trust, and craft a clear exit strategy to help you to retire securely and confidently.