IDR vs refinance calculator

IBR, RAP, and a private recast on the same balance. Forgiveness clock and a 2026 tax-bomb flag. Rates and AGI are yours — defaults are examples, not today’s servicer or today’s refinance quote. Read the IDR vs refinance guide first. SAVE is not a row.

Quick answer: This calculator compares an income-driven payment, the RAP rules the page encodes, and a private refinance recast. Forgiveness timing, a tax-bomb flag, and extra principal use the rates and income you type. Defaults are examples.

Direct balance ($) Federal rate % Example, not today’s MPN. AGI ($) Family size (IBR FPL) Dependents (RAP $50 each) Loan cohort

Private recast · example, not a live quote

Private rate % Private term (years) Extra principal / mo ($) Tax rate at IDR forgiveness % Qualifying payments already counted PSLF path (120 payments, work-requirement exclusion)

DTI 0.5% recast is in the DTI calculator — this page flags it, it does not underwrite a house.

Monthly vs lifetime cash

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IBR uses 2026 HHS poverty guidelines for the 48 states ($15,960 + $5,680 per additional person) at 150%. RAP uses P.L. 119-21 bands, $50/dependent, $10 floor, unpaid-interest waiver, and the $50 principal match. AGI held constant. Paid sequence: stay-federal or recast playbook.

What this means for you

What this means for you: a lower income-driven payment can mean a longer balance and tax on forgiveness if the page's flag is on. A refinance payment is a standard amortization at your rate, with no forgiveness. Confirm the plan names on StudentAid.gov before you rely on a label.

How to use this calculator

Open the Student loan calculator and keep the sample numbers or replace them with your own. The result updates as you type.
Read the headline figure first, then the breakdown or chart under it.
Use Copy share link if you want those inputs in the URL. The page is an educational estimate, not a filing, approval, or recommendation.

FAQ

Are the interest rates official?

No. The page says defaults are examples. Type the rate on your loan.

What is the tax-bomb flag?

The page marks forgiveness that it treats as taxable in 2026 under the rule it labels. It is a flag, not a bill.

Does extra principal change an income-driven plan?

The page applies extra principal the way its formula states. A servicer's allocation can differ.

Educational, not financial advice. Page updated October 24, 2026 — no tax, limit, or rate figure was changed in this review.