---
title: Student Loan Repayment Benefits | Tax-Free Employee Benefits | SideUp Meta Description
description: Help employees pay off student debt with tax-efficient student loan repayment benefits. Improve retention, financial wellbeing, and employee satisfaction with SideUp.
---
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- Solutions
Pre-tax Benefits
IRS-compliant, pre-tax benefits for core needs.
- [Student Loan & Tuition Smarter education funding](https://sideup.com/student-loan-repayment-benefits)
- [Commuter Pre-tax transit & parking](https://sideup.com/commuting?hsLang=en)
- [HRA Health Reimbursement Arrangement](https://sideup.com/hra?hsLang=en)
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Lifestyle Spending Accounts
Flexible, post-tax benefits for modern life.
- [Wellness & Fitness Gym, mental health & wellbeing](https://sideup.com/wellness-fitness?hsLang=en)
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- Platform
For Employers
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For Employees
- [How to spend benefits Discover how to use your SideUp card](https://hi.sideup.com/how-to-spend-your-benefits)
- [Stayconomics](https://sideup.com/stayconomics?hsLang=en)
Learn with Stayconomics
Explore the ideas, research, and strategies behind workplaces people choose to stay in.
[Blog Data-backed, no-fluff articles on retention, benefits, and the future of work.](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics) [Podcast On Youtube and Spotify with the leaders who are actually figuring it out.](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/podcast) [Newsletter The best of what's happening in HR and employee retention, curated, concise, and worth your Monday morning.](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/tag/newsletter) [Events & Webinars Real experts, real questions, real takeaways you can use before the week is over.](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/events-webinars) [Explore by Topics Retention, benefits, HR tech, financial wellness, and more, organized by what you need.](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/topics-1)
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- Solutions
- Pre-tax Benefits
- [Student Loan & Tuition](https://sideup.com/student-loan-repayment-benefits)
- [Commuter](https://sideup.com/commuting?hsLang=en)
- [HRA](https://sideup.com/hra?hsLang=en)
- [Family Care](https://sideup.com/family-care?hsLang=en)
- Lifestyle Spending Accounts
- [Wellness & Fitness](https://sideup.com/wellness-fitness?hsLang=en)
- [Work From Home](https://sideup.com/work-from-home?hsLang=en)
- [Food](https://sideup.com/food?hsLang=en)
- [Utilities & Essential Bills](https://sideup.com/utilities-essentials-bills?hsLang=en)
- Platform
- For Employers
- [Manage Benefits](https://sideup.com/how-to-manage-benefits?hsLang=en)
- [Integrations](https://sideup.com/integrations?hsLang=en)
- [Trust](https://sideup.com/trust?hsLang=en)
- For Employees
- [How to spend benefits](https://hi.sideup.com/how-to-spend-your-benefits)
- [Stayconomics](https://sideup.com/stayconomics?hsLang=en)
- Learn with Stayconomics
- [Blog](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics)
- [Podcast](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/podcast)
- [Newsletter](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/tag/newsletter)
- [Events & Webinars](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/events-webinars)
- [Explore by Topics](https://hi.sideup.com/stayconomics/topics-1)
- Company
- Know more about us
- [Partnership](https://sideup.com/partnership?hsLang=en)
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- Brandbook
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- [Business Platform](https://admin.sideup.com)
- [Book a demo](https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/lana-leles/demo)
Student Loan & Tuition
# Pay down their debt. Build up their loyalty.
One of the most effective ways to support employees and keep them longer.
[See How It Works](https://meetings-eu1.hubspot.com/lana-leles/demo)
THE SILENT CRISIS
# The invisible weight on your best people
They show up. They hit KPIs. But behind the performance, millions are carrying a financial weight that follows them home. Across the U.S., 43 million employees live with student debt averaging around $37,000 each, delaying buying homes, starting families, and saving for the future.
You can't fix the entire system. But with SideUp, you hold the key to unlocking their financial freedom - **tax-free**.
Compliance Engine
## Complex tax law. Simple software.
Your CFO fears audits. Your HR team fears paperwork. SideUp eliminates both with a fully automated compliance engine.
### 1. Verify
SideUp connects directly to loan servicers to confirm the debt is real, active, and eligible for Section 127 support. No manual uploads, no fraud risk.
### 2. Pay
Funds never touch the employee's bank account. We route payments straight to the loan provider, ensuring 100% tax-free compliance.
### 3. Document
Come tax season, your team gets a single, audit-ready export of every payment. Zero manual reconciliation required.
Loan Verified
Sent to
Loan Servicer
IRS FORM 1098-E
## See How SideUp Works in 4 Easy Steps
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01\.
### Choose your benefits
Decide which benefits you want to offer and who they apply to.
02\.
### Implement your policy
Set your budget, eligibility rules, and spending limits. Our platform handles the compliance and guardrails automatically.
03\.
### Connect to payroll
Seamlessly integrate with your existing payroll provider. We handle the tax implications and reporting for you.
04\.
### Join the SideUp platform
Invite your team. They get their cards, you get the credit for being an amazing employer. Everyone wins.
REAL IMPACT, MEASURED IN RESULTS
## The numbers don't lie
Based on SideUp’s internal research comparing clients **with** vs. **without** flexible stipends. When you give employees choice, the numbers speak for themselves.
+35
eNPS Points
Clients using SideUp consistently score +35 points higher than those relying on standard perks.
Is your culture healthy or at risk?
Get your free Diagnostic →
\+ 23%
Profit
Employees who are happy with their benefits are more productive and can increase a company’s revenue by up to 23%.
10x
ROI
For every $1 spent on SideUp stipends, companies save $10 in retention costs and productivity gains.
Elevate your benefits
## Comprehensive benefits for everyone
Watch each benefit in action, then tap through to see how it works. Swipe to explore them all.
[Financial Student Loan & Tuition Repayment assistance, tuition reimbursement, refinancing support. Invest in their future. Learn more →](https://hi.sideup.com/student-loan-repayment-benefits)[Health Wellness & Fitness Gym, therapy, meditation, fitness classes. Support the whole person. Learn more →](https://hi.sideup.com/wellness-fitness)[Remote Work from Home Internet, ergonomic setup, coffee, coworking spaces. Power their productivity anywhere. Learn more →](https://hi.sideup.com/work-from-home)[Family Family Care Childcare, elder care, pet care, fertility support. Be there for their loved ones. Learn more →](https://hi.sideup.com/family-care)[Essential Utilities & Essentials Phone bills, electricity, gas, water, internet. Cover the basics that matter. Learn more →](https://hi.sideup.com/utilities-essentials-bills)[Lifestyle Food Lunch stipends, grocery delivery, meal kits, coffee runs. Fuel their day. Learn more →](https://hi.sideup.com/food)[Healthcare HRA Employer-funded healthcare reimbursements. Learn more →](https://hi.sideup.com/hra)[Lifestyle Commuting Smarter commute spending. Learn more →](https://hi.sideup.com/commuting)
ELEVATE YOUR BENEFITS
## The loan is just the start
### [Financial Student Loan & Tuittion Repayment assistance, tuition reimbursement, refinancing support. Invest in their future.  Learn more](https://sideup.com/student-loan-repayment-benefits)
### [Health Wellness & Fitness Gym, therapy, meditation, fitness classes. Support the whole person.  Learn more](https://sideup.com/wellness-fitness?hsLang=en)
### [REMOTE Work from Home Internet, ergonomic setup, coffee, coworking spaces. Power their productivity anywhere.  Learn more](https://sideup.com/work-from-home?hsLang=en)
### [FAMILY Family Care Childcare, elder care, pet care, fertility support. Be there for their loved ones.  Learn more](https://sideup.com/family-care?hsLang=en)
### [Essential Utilities & Essentials Phone bills, electricity, gas, water, internet. Cover the basics that matter. .png) Learn more](https://sideup.com/utilities-essentials-bills?hsLang=en)
### [Lifestyle Food Lunch stipends, grocery delivery, meal kits, coffee runs. Fuel their day. .png) Learn more](https://sideup.com/food?hsLang=en)
The SideUp Marketplace
## Every dollar goes further. And stays local.
Our marketplace brings your team closer to the independent cafés, gyms, shops and services in their own neighborhood. When they spend their SideUp budget there, they unlock exclusive discounts and freebies, so the same benefit buys more.
✓
Exclusive discounts for SideUp members
✓
Freebies and extras from local partners
✓
Your benefits budget, backing local businesses
[List your business](https://hi.sideup.com/partnership)[Nominate a local favorite](https://hi.sideup.com/partnership)
A Saturday on Main Street
The Corner Café
$10.95
Marketplace discount
−$1.65
Northside Yoga Studio
$15.00
Free mat rental
Freebie
Saved this month
$11.60
Illustrative example
FAQ
## Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about student loan and tuition benefits.
What is a student loan repayment benefit?
It's a benefit where employers contribute directly toward an employee's student loan balance or tuition costs, on top of regular salary.
How much can employers contribute tax-free?
Under IRS Section 127, US employers can contribute up to $5,250 per employee per year toward student loans or tuition, tax-free for both the employer and the employee.
Is student loan assistance taxable to the employee?
No, up to the $5,250 annual IRS limit, contributions are excluded from the employee's taxable income when structured under a qualifying Section 127 plan.
How does SideUp pay down an employee's student loan?
Payments go directly to the employee's loan servicer or are applied through the SideUp card, so employees don't have to submit reimbursement claims.
Can all employees use this benefit, or only recent graduates?
Any employee with outstanding student loans or eligible tuition expenses can typically use it. It's not limited to recent graduates.
Does offering student loan benefits actually help with retention?
Yes. 91% of employees with student debt report feeling anxious about it, and 77% say they'd choose an employer that helps pay it down, which directly affects both hiring and retention.
## Ready to turn debt relief into retention?
### Turn financial pressure into long-term loyalty.
Because when employees feel financially secure, they show up more focused, committed, and ready to stay.
[](https://sideup.com?hsLang=en)
Benefits that work for everyone.
### Products
- [Student Loan & Tuition](https://sideup.com/student-loan-repayment-benefits)
- [Wellness & Fitness](https://sideup.com/wellness-fitness?hsLang=en)
- [Work from Home](https://sideup.com/work-from-home?hsLang=en)
- [Family Care](https://sideup.com/family-care?hsLang=en)
- [Food](https://sideup.com/food?hsLang=en)
- [Utilities & Essential Bills](https://sideup.com/utilities-essentials-bills?hsLang=en)
- [HRA](https://sideup.com/hra?hsLang=en)
- [Recognition](https://sideup.com/recognition?hsLang=en)
### Platform
- [Manage Benefits](https://sideup.com/how-to-manage-benefits?hsLang=en)
- [Integrations](https://sideup.com/integrations?hsLang=en)
- [Trust](https://sideup.com/trust?hsLang=en)
- [Ways to spend benefits](https://sideup.com/how-to-spend-your-benefits?hsLang=en)
### Privacy
- [Privacy Policy](https://sideup.com/privacy-policy?hsLang=en)
- [Terms & Conditions](https://sideup.com/terms-conditions?hsLang=en)
### Log in
- [Business Platform](https://admin.sideup.com)
- [Employee Portal](https://app.sideup.com)
[Contact us](https://sideup.com/contact-us?hsLang=en)
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