How Long to Keep Student Loan Documents (and Store Them Securely)
You would be wise to keep student loan documents until the issue at hand has been resolved or, in the case of tax paperwork, for up to seven years. Really, how long to keep them depends on the type of student loan document.
Conventional wisdom says to only dispose of student loan records once your balance hits zero. Another common-sense approach prescribes storing everything important as long as possible — then, if a lender or collection agency challenges you years after completing your repayment, you won’t be left without proof.
Below are details on how long to keep six types of student loan documents and how to store — or shred — each without trashing an important document that you might miss later.
1. Student loan master promissory note
2. Monthly student loan bills
3. Correspondence with your lender, loan servicer or collections agency
4. Student loan receipt
5. Tax documents
6. Paperwork relating to student loan management
● Plus: How to keep your student loan documents secure
1. Student loan master promissory note
Whether you borrowed from the Department of Education or a private lender, you agreed to a legally binding contract outlining how and when you would repay your debt. That’s the master promissory note (MPN).
Consider it like the lease for your apartment or home rental. When you move into a new place, you keep your lease handy in case you’re suddenly curious whether you’re allowed to repaint the walls or rent out a room on Airbnb.
Similarly, it’s wise to keep the MPN in your possession. If you’re about to graduate, for example, you might refer back to the MPN to confirm the length of your grace period.
On the other hand, if your refinancing or consolidation lender pays off the original debt on your behalf, you can ditch the old document and keep the contract associated with your new loan.
How long to keep this student loan document: Until your loan has been repaid
2. Monthly student loan bills
You might still be receiving monthly bills in the mail for your student loan payments. These can be worthwhile if you prefer to confirm the accuracy of your monthly dues on a hard copy.
There’s no harm in keeping these slips of paper filed away. It’s possible you could need them if you decide to meet with a student loan counselor, for example.
But there’s no real need to store them at all. You could go paperless: Just be sure to review the statements, which would arrive via attachments to your email inbox, and keep an eye on your online account summary to ensure your payments are being applied appropriately.
How long to keep this student loan document: Until your payment for the bill in question has been applied to your account
3. Correspondence with your lender, loan servicer or collections agency
If you’ve had problems with whomever holds your debt — perhaps to the point of losing trust in them — you might find yourself exchanging letters. Often, creating a paper trail is better than communicating over the phone with unhelpful customer service reps. The paper copies could come in handy if you later battle your loan servicer in court, for example.
However, it’s possible your correspondence with your lender is more run of the mill. Maybe you’re receiving confirmation of your annual recertification for income-driven repayment or are being informed of an administrative change (perhaps your loan has been sold to another servicer).
Whether it seems to be a serious matter or not, personal letters are worth keeping. Say you’re working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness, for example. You’ll want to be able to locate any mailing that could prove you’ve fulfilled the eligibility requirements when the time comes to receive forgiveness.
How long to keep this student loan document: Until your loan has been repaid
4. Student loan receipt
You can typically request and receive a loan receipt from your loan servicer or lender. You could use it to correct errors on your credit report or to prove your debt-free status if you’re ever questioned.
Note that is different from a student loan payoff letter (or payoff balance statement). The payoff letter shows how much you need to make your final payment, not that you’ve already made it. Think of it as a pre-receipt. You might need it for your student loan refinancing application, but it’s not worth keeping for as long as the actual receipt.
How long to keep this student loan document: Indefinitely — and see below for smart storage
5. Tax documents
If you’ve been in repayment, you know how student loans and taxes intersect. You can claim the student loan interest deduction from your federal income taxes, for example.
You might also find yourself facing a big tax bill if you receive federal loan forgiveness or cancellation.
The tax forms concerning these student loans scenarios include:
- Form 1098-E: Also known as the Student Loan Interest Statement, this lender-sent form tallies your interest paid to help you claim your deduction.
- Form 1099-C: The Cancellation of Debt form confirms any loan amount forgiven or canceled, which you might need to report as income on your Form 1040.
As for how long to hold on to these and other tax documents, look to the IRS’s guidelines: The federal agency reserves the right to audit you within three years of the tax year in question. It could also pursue unreported income (perhaps in the case of loan forgiveness or cancellation) for up to six years.
How long to keep this student loan document: For up to seven years
6. Paperwork relating to student loan management
You might also start collecting paperwork relating to whatever ails — or fixes — your loan repayment. Any of the following loan-management strategies are bound to get the printer in a huff:
- Deferment and forbearance
- Rehabilitation and consolidation
- Forgiveness, cancellation and discharge
- Collections and bankruptcy
Each measure could include applications and approval or denial files, as well as additional monitoring.
Say you’ve defaulted on your federal loans, for instance, and are facing collections. To avoid or reduce wage garnishment, you could file a request for a hearing alongside a financial disclosure form that would detail the dire straits of your financial situation.
In serious situations where you might need a student loan lawyer, consult with them on what court papers and other documents are worth keeping.
How long to keep this student loan document: Until you’ve resolved the issue
How to keep your student loan documents secure
If you’re aiming to declutter, you might be disappointed to learn that it’s wise to keep most of your student loan records for relatively long periods.
Here’s a solution: Ditch that fireproof safe or lock-and-key filing cabinet and replace it with digital storage.
You might have plenty of unused space from your favorite online provider, whether it’s Google Drive, Dropbox or something else. Ensure it’s password-protected, and monitor the file sharing permissions to confirm you’re the only person who can access them.
Keeping your student loan documents – and backing them – is also a good idea. You never know when you might need your files down the road, such as in the case of zombie student loan debt.
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