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H. R. 7536

GRADUATE Act

Shown here: Introduced in House (2026-02-12)

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the deduction for student loan interest to include payments toward principal, and to increase the value of the deduction.

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Generating Relief for Academic Debt Using Assisted Tax Efficiency Act” or the “GRADUATE Act”.

2. Education loan deduction

(a) In general

Section 221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—

(1) in the heading, by striking “Interest on education loans” and inserting “Education loans”,

(2) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

(a) Allowance of deduction
In the case of an individual, there shall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year an amount equal to the amounts paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year on any qualified education loan.

(3) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

(b) Maximum deduction
(1) In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the deduction allowed by subsection (a) for the taxable year shall not exceed an amount equal to the sum of—
(A) $10,000, plus
(B) $500 multiplied by the number of dependents of the taxpayer for such taxable year.
(2) Limitation based on modified adjusted gross income
(A) In general
The amount which would (but for this paragraph) be allowable as a deduction under this section shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount determined under subparagraph (B).
(B) Amount of reduction
The amount determined under this subparagraph is the amount which bears the same ratio to the amount which would be so taken into account as—
(i) the excess of—
(I) the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income for such taxable year, over
(II) $125,000 ($250,000 in the case of a joint return), bears to
(ii) $25,000 ($50,000 in the case of a joint return).
(C) Modified adjusted gross income
The term “modified adjusted gross income” means adjusted gross income determined—
(i) without regard to this section and sections 85(c), 911, 931, and 933, and
(ii) after application of sections 86, 135, 137, 219, and 469.

(4) in subsection (f)(1)—

(A) by striking “after 2002” and inserting “after 2026”,

(B) by striking “$50,000 and $100,000” and inserting “$125,000 and $250,000”, and

(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking “calendar year 2001” and inserting “calendar year 2025”.

(b) Conforming amendment

Section 62(a)(17) of such Code is amended to read as follows:

(17) Education loan payments
The deduction allowed by section 221.

(c) Effective date

The amendment made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

2. Education loan deduction

(a) In general

Section 221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—

(1) in the heading, by striking “Interest on education loans” and inserting “Education loans”,

(2) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

(a) Allowance of deduction

In the case of an individual, there shall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year an amount equal to the amounts paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year on any qualified education loan.

(3) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

(b) Maximum deduction

(1) In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), the deduction allowed by subsection (a) for the taxable year shall not exceed an amount equal to the sum of—

(A) $10,000, plus

(B) $500 multiplied by the number of dependents of the taxpayer for such taxable year.

(2) Limitation based on modified adjusted gross income

(A) In general

The amount which would (but for this paragraph) be allowable as a deduction under this section shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount determined under subparagraph (B).

(B) Amount of reduction

The amount determined under this subparagraph is the amount which bears the same ratio to the amount which would be so taken into account as—

(i) the excess of—

(I) the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income for such taxable year, over

(II) $125,000 ($250,000 in the case of a joint return), bears to

(ii) $25,000 ($50,000 in the case of a joint return).

(C) Modified adjusted gross income

The term “modified adjusted gross income” means adjusted gross income determined—

(i) without regard to this section and sections 85(c), 911, 931, and 933, and

(ii) after application of sections 86, 135, 137, 219, and 469.