Thinking about doing it, as a self employed small business owner
Posted by Sotal_Tense@reddit | studentloandefaulters | View on Reddit | 13 comments
Talking to a friend who also has a single-member LLC small business. We both have federal grad student loans, no private.
So when I read about the punishments for default it's all 1) tank your credit score, 2) garnish wages, 3) take your tax refund, 4) take your social security. All of these feel manageable to me as a small business owner. 1) tank credit score? boo-hoo, I don't care. I own my home, and if we need a car loan my husband can just do all that in his name. 2) obv. wage garnishment isn't an issue in this scenario, so that liability gets bumped over to 3) taking any tax refunds, right? I'm shooting for $0 when it comes to a tax refund anyway (not interested in giving our 0% interest loans myself), so this doesn't frighten me. 4) if the only way they can get their money back is to withhold any future social security payments, isn't this maybe all the more incentive for feds to make sure the program exists 20+ years from now?
I'm on the SAVE plan court decision forbearance right now, but I'm thinking some September/whenever payments are due, I'm just not paying. Just feeling a big FU. Anything else I should take into consideration?
jatin_yadav_241@reddit
It’s true that some of those consequences feel less severe for business owners, but there are a few other things to consider:
The FU approach feels tempting, but make sure you’re okay with the long-term fallout before pulling the plug.
Fun-Date4673@reddit
This is my first year being self employed. I applied for student loan for my daughter but SOFI denied it because i have no proof of income . What are my options . Can anyone help
stella2251@reddit
I was in a similar situation. I work for myself and after I bought my house I defaulted. That was in 2021, my credit score did tank, but then I received a letter that my loan was forgiven. Defaulting worked amazing for me. I hope something similar can happen to you!
Essential_Toils@reddit
This seems like a very particular scenario. Did you buy your house with cash? Can your wages not be garnished if you work for yourself? Can you just reject that as a self-employed person?
So many questions, lol.
stella2251@reddit
I didn't stop making payments on my student loans until I had bought my house. Being self employed does make wage garnishment impossible, might have helped? I think I might just be very lucky
Essential_Toils@reddit
Curious, do you have a mortgage or are you one of the lucky ones? Cheers to you, anyhow!
stella2251@reddit
I 1000% have a mortgage, lol. After you buy your house, your credit score means zero to your mortgage company if you make your payments
Odd-Barnacle-1241@reddit
How much did they forgive and what was your tax bill?
stella2251@reddit
All of it $57,000
stella2251@reddit
I did not get a tax bill. It told me that I wouldn't in the letter I received. My loans were old
Odd-Barnacle-1241@reddit
Nice! Thanks for the info
PurpleTranslator7636@reddit
You should take your financial circumstances and life settings, 20 years from now into account, before you happily push the 'self destruct' button for Reddit 'likes'.
Living-Apartment-592@reddit
I’m in almost the exact same situation. I just opened my own business, I’m the only employee, and nelnet can suck it.