What Are the Different kinds of Debt?

You may think that a debt is a debt, but different kinds of loans and other debts have their own payment plans, tax implications and impacts on your credit scores. Ideally, you’d want to have several types of debt on your credit reports because this shows lenders you are able to balance your finances. A diverse credit history can also help your credit scores.

One of the factors used to calculate your scores is your credit utilization rate. This refers to the amount of money you owe in relation to the total amount of credit available to you. For example, if you have a credit card with a limit of $5,000 and you currently owe $1,000, your credit utilization rate on that card would be 20 percent. Most creditors want to see a credit utilization rate of 30 percent or less across your total revolving accounts.

So what makes credit card debt different from medical bills, a mortgage or a student loan? Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common types of debt, as well as how they may affect your finances:

Credit Card Debt

• Type of loan: Credit card debt is considered a revolving account, meaning you don’t have to pay it off at the end of the loan term (usually the end of the month). It’s also an unsecured loan, which means there isn’t a physical asset like a house or car tied to the loan that the lender can repossess to cover the debt if you don’t pay up.
• Interest rates: Rates vary depending on the card, your credit scores and your history with the lender, but they tend to range from 10 to 25 percent, with an average interest rate of around 15 percent.
• How you pay it off: To remain in good standing, you’re required to make a minimum payment on your credit account each month if you carry a balance. However, paying only the minimum can allow interest charges to build up and make the debt nearly impossible to pay off. Tackle existing credit card debts by paying as much above the minimum as you can, then commit to spending no more each month than you can pay off when your statement comes.
• Tax implications: There are none, as payments made on credit card debt are not tax-deductible.
• Ramifications for your credit scores: A long history of making payments on time can be good for your credit scores. Just be careful about opening too many accounts or getting too close to your credit limits.

Mortgages

• Type of loan: Mortgages are installment loans, which means you pay them back in a set number of payments (installments) over an agreed-upon term (usually 15 or 30 years). They’re also secured loans, meaning the home you bought with the mortgage serves as collateral for the debt. If you stop making payments, the lender can begin the foreclosure process, which typically includes seizing the property and selling it to get back its money.
• Interest rates: Depending on the state of the economy, interest rates on home mortgages tend to range between 3 and 5 percent. If you have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), your interest rate may change from year to year within certain parameters.
• How you pay it off: You generally make a payment on your mortgage once a month for the term of the loan. Although some mortgages may require you to pay twice a month, those are pretty rare.
• Tax implications: The interest you pay on the mortgage for your primary residence is tax-deductible up to $1,000,000 ($500,000 if married filing separately). The interest you pay on a home equity loan is also tax-deductible up to $100,000 ($50,000 if married filing separately).
• Ramifications for your credit scores: Provided you make your payments on time, a mortgage can often help your scores because it shows you’re a responsible borrower. Having a mortgage helps diversify your credit portfolio, which can also help your scores. Also of note, this type of debt doesn’t count toward the credit utilization rate portion of your credit scores.

Auto Loans

• Type of loan: Like a mortgage, an auto loan is a secured installment loan. It’s paid in a set number of payments over an agreed-upon period of time (often three to six years). If you stop making payments, the lender can repossess your car and sell it to get back its money.
• Interest rates: The longer the term of your loan, the lower your interest rate will probably be. Many auto companies offer low- or no-interest financing deals for individuals with good credit.
• How you pay it off: Because this is an installment loan, you pay it off in a set number of monthly payments over several years.
• Tax implications: There are none, as payments made on auto loans are not tax-deductible.
• Ramifications for your credit scores: Like a mortgage, making on-time payments on your auto loan will help you build a positive borrowing history and also help your credit scores.

Student Loans

• Type of loan: Student loans are unsecured installment debts, but the payment terms are more flexible than other loans.
• Interest rates: Interest rates on student loans vary. If you’re taking out a student loan through the U.S. Department of Education, the interest rate is set by the federal government and will remain stable for the life of the loan.
• How you pay it off: Generally, student loan payments are calculated for a 10-year payoff period. However, this is not set in stone. For example, if your payments are more than you can reasonably afford, your loan servicer may put you on an income-based repayment plan with a lower monthly payment.
• Tax implications: Interest paid on student loans is tax-deductible up to $2,500 provided your gross income is not more than $80,000 (or $160,000 if married filing jointly).
• Ramifications for your credit scores: Student loans are often some of the first debts borrowers take on, so they can be an important means of building a strong borrowing history. As with other debts, paying your student loans on time each month helps your credit scores.

Medical Debt

• Type of loan: Medical debts aren’t secured by any kind of property and usually don’t come with an assigned payment period or structure. Most hospitals and other health care providers have a billing department, and you can often work with your provider to set up a payment plan if you can’t pay the full amount of your bill right away.
• How you pay it off: This really depends on your doctor or hospital. Ideally, they want you to pay it off all at once, but that might not be possible if you’ve had, say, an extended and costly hospital stay. Again, talk with the provider’s billing department to see if you can work out a payment plan or negotiate a lower price for the services you’ve received.
• Tax implications: Qualified medical expenses that exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income can be deducted from your federal taxes.
• In 2022, the three nationwide credit bureaus (Equifax^®, Experian^® and TransUnion^®) worked together to enact a one-year waiting period before a medical debt reported by a collection agency appears on your credit reports, offering consumers more time to work out payment plans or pay down their debt. Additionally, if the debt is $500 or more and does make its way onto your credit reports but is later paid off, it will be removed from your credit report. As of April 2023, all medical collection debt with an initial reported balance under $500 is no longer included on U.S. consumer credit reports.

Regardless of the types or the amount of debt you carry, the most important thing is to keep up with your payments each month. That way, you can steer clear of debt collectors and avoid negatively affecting your credit scores.