Is a refund from financial aid from student loans taxable?

[Hal_Al]

Simple answer: no.  Loans are considered your money. They are not taxable, no matter how you used the money. They are not treated the same as scholarships. 

But taxes aren't simple.  Basically any scholarship amount  (but not loans) that exceeds qualified expenses (tuition, fees, books and other course materials) is taxable income to the student.  But the student (usually) needs more than $12,200 of total income before he will owe any tax. 

[KathrynG3]

@Hal_Al is correct. Keep in mind for your financial planning that "refunds" of student loans, while the money exceeds your qualified expenses, are not "free money." Unless you apply the student loan refund to your balance, you will still have to pay it back with interest per the terms of the agreement.

@als14500