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119-s-1610119th CongressWALLET

Tax-Free Pell Grant Act

Sponsored By: Senator Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

Introduced

Summary

Pell Grants would be explicitly excluded from federal taxable income. The bill would also block Federal Pell Grants from being counted against education tax credits so students do not lose credit eligibility because of Pell aid.

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  • Students and families: Pell Grant money used for qualified tuition and related expenses would not be treated as taxable income. This aims to increase the after-tax value of Pell aid for low- and moderate-income students.
  • Tax filers claiming education credits: The bill would stop Pell Grants from reducing calculations for the American Opportunity Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit, so those credits would not be adjusted downward because of Pell aid.
  • Timing: The changes would apply for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Pell Grants tax-free for students

If enacted, Federal Pell Grants would not count as taxable income for tax years starting after December 31, 2025. Scholarships and fellowships would be tax-free only for the part you can show was used for qualified tuition and related expenses under the grant’s conditions. Pell Grants would also be excluded when calculating the adjustment that affects the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning tax credits. This could lower taxable income and preserve or increase education credits for many students and families.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]

RI • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 5/6/2025

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 5/6/2025

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 5/6/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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