Find out about other student loan interest write-offs.

Student loan interest write-offs for 2000-2006.

There were some other student loan interest write-offs that were only available before 1 April 2007.

Find out more about tax residency and status.

If you were a non-resident studying full-time overseas, you may also have been eligible for an interest write-off.

How the rates were made up

The interest rates were made up of:

• a base interest rate - the total interest rate less the interest adjustment rate.
• an interest adjustment rate based on the movement of the consumer price index. This rate was affected each year by inflation.

Full interest write-offs

To get a full interest write-off, you must have been either:

• a full-time, full-year student studying for a minimum of 32 weeks or more in any 52 week period, or
• a part-time or part-year student with income under the full interest write-off threshold for that year.

If you were a full-time student

If you gave your IRD number to your tertiary provider when you completed your enrolment form then you don't have to do anything. You would have already received a full interest write-off.

If you didn't give your IRD number to your tertiary provider, you'll need to contact us to let us know your student ID number and the tertiary provider's number.

If you were a part-time student

Your interest write-off will have been automatically calculated and processed when you either:

• completed an Individual tax return (IR3), or
• received a personal tax summary from us in July.

Base interest write-offs

To get a base interest write-off your annual income must have been below the repayment threshold for that tax year.

Your base interest write-off will have been automatically calculated when you either:

• completed an Individual tax return (IR3), or
• received a personal tax summary (PTS) from us in the July following the end of the tax year.

Interest reductions

If the base interest charged on your loan was more than 50% of your repayment obligation, the difference in interest was written off.

Your interest reduction will have been automatically calculated when you either:

• completed an Individual tax return (IR3), or
• received a personal tax summary from us in the July following the end of the tax year.

Interest write-offs if you were studying overseas

If you were a non-resident for tax purposes and were studying full-time overseas prior to 1 April 2007, you may be able to get all or part of the base interest charged to your loan written off.

Find out your personal tax residence status

You'll need to have negotiated a lower repayment obligation for the tax year and provide us with a letter from your University or educational institution that confirms the start and end dates of your study and your attendance.

Send your written application requesting a study overseas interest write-off to:

Non-resident Centre
Inland Revenue
Private Bag 1932
Dunedin