Student Loans are part of the government’s financial support package for students in higher education in the UK. They are available to help students meet their expenses while they are studying. Additionally it is HMRC’s responsibility to collect repayments where the borrower is working in the UK. The Student Loans Company (SLC) is directly responsible for collecting the loans of borrowers outside the UK tax system.
Loan Elements and Availability
The main finance package elements available to students include loans for tuition fees and maintenance loans (for living costs). The maximum loan amounts are capped with the maximum amount depending on individual circumstances. Maintenance grants are also available under certain circumstances. The grants don’t have to be repaid but do reduce the amount of available maintenance loan a student can claim.
Students that have finished their studies and entered the workforce must begin to make loan repayments. This needs to be done from the April after finishing studies or when their income exceeds an annual threshold.
Repayment Thresholds and Rates
Since 6 April 2023, the thresholds and rates are as follows: Plan 1 – £22,015, Plan 2 – £27,295 and Plan 4 (Scottish student loans) – £27,660. The terms of loan repayment for courses of study started before 01 September 2012 are referred to as ‘Plan 1’, and those started after 01 September 2012, are referred to as ‘Plan 2’. Repayments will be deducted at a rate of 9% of income over the threshold. The threshold for postgraduate loans is £21,000 and repayments are deducted at a rate of 6%
Refund Procedures and Challenges
Taxpayers that have made repayments but whose total annual income was less than the respective thresholds can apply for a loan refund. An application cannot be made until after the relevant tax year has finished. Taxpayers can also apply for a refund from the Student Loans Company if the loan debt has been repaid in full.
The Student Loans Company repayment call waiting times are currently far longer than usual due to exceptionally high volumes of refund requests. Taxpayers should first check if they are due a refund by looking at https://www.gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan/getting-a-refund
