PSLF buyback calculator
Estimate what it would cost to buy back months you spent in deferment or forbearance that didn't count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness — and whether it gets you to 120 qualifying payments. Free, no signup.
By the AttendingFi research team · checked against current federal program rules (June 2026)
See whether buyback is worth it on your real numbers — no login.
How PSLF buyback works
PSLF requires 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time for a qualifying nonprofit or government employer. Months spent in most deferments and forbearances don't count. Buyback lets you pay for some of those non-counting months — at roughly the income-driven amount you would have owed then — so they count toward your 120. It only helps if (1) you had qualifying employment during those months, and (2) buying them back actually reaches 120. Because resident income-driven payments are often very low, buyback can convert cheap past months into completed, tax-free forgiveness — sometimes the single highest-return move available. The Department of Education finalizes the exact amount; this tool gives you a fast estimate so you know whether it's worth pursuing.
Common questions
What is PSLF buyback?
PSLF buyback lets you pay for past months you spent in certain deferments or forbearances that didn't count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness — but only if making those payments would bring you to 120 qualifying payments and you had qualifying employment during those months. You pay roughly what your income-driven payment would have been then.
How is the buyback amount calculated?
The Department of Education calculates the exact amount based on the monthly payment you would have made under an income-driven plan during those months. This tool estimates it as (months you buy back) × (your income-driven monthly payment at that time), which for many residents was low or even $0.
Does buyback always make sense?
Only when it gets you to 120 qualifying payments and the remaining balance forgiven tax-free is worth more than the buyback cost. If buyback doesn't reach 120, it doesn't trigger forgiveness on its own. Run your full plan in the free calculator to see whether it's worth it on your numbers.
Related: PSLF buyback, explained for physicians · How PSLF works · PSLF Missing Months Checker · PSLF calculator
Educational estimate, not individualized financial advice. The U.S. Department of Education calculates the actual buyback amount from the income-driven payment that would have applied; figures here are approximate. Confirm eligibility and amounts at studentaid.gov. Reviewed against current federal program rules, June 2026.