The IBR repayment plan, and to my knowledge any and all of the IBR options, will base the borrower's monthly payment on ALL income reported, not just the borrower's income, if the return was filed Married-Joint. But, if the return is filed Married-Single, it will only base the repayment on "single" borrower's income... Or at least that is how is has always worked out for me. I have always chosen to take a hit on getting $1000+ less in tax refund by filing Married-Single to get the benefit of a lower student loan payment, sometimes $0.00! Or at least until 2018 when filing Married-Single would've caused both of us to be owing taxes, rather than getting ANY refund, and when we both claim 0 on our W-4's... Him $2500.00/me $1000.00 for whatever the reason that is now! So, I had to file Married-Joint for 2018, to avoid that payment, penalties, interest; ergo now have huge IBR payment.
@fanfare
