CNBC: Student loan borrowers in default may miss out on Trump’s ‘largest tax refund season of all time’

January 14, 2026 — Featured News

Appearing in CNBC on Jan. 14, 2026, Annie Nova talks to NCLC Senior Attorney Kyra Taylor about how the Trump administration is predicting larger tax refunds for the 2026 season due to changes in the “big beautiful bill,” but the millions of student loan borrowers who are behind on their payments may miss out.

If you do learn that you’re in default, contact the government’s Treasury Offset Program’s call center at 1-800-304-3107, said Kyra Taylor, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.

Borrowers in default “need to call right before they file their taxes,” Taylor said.

The government generates a list of people who are in debt to different agencies and may have their tax refunds garnished. You’ll be asked to provide your Social Security number to learn if you are on the list, Taylor said.

“If their name is not on the list, they’re likely in the clear,” she said.

If you are on the list for garnishment, you’ll want to take steps right away to get current on your loans — and ideally before you file your taxes, Taylor said.”