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A precomputed loan is a type of personal loan. With these loans, the lender will calculate the interest owed up front and add it to the principal balance. This is different from a simple interest loan, where interest charges are determined by the principal balance month to month.

Precomputed loans typically favor lenders, and the way the interest charges are calculated is complicated. You’ll want to have a clear understanding of what you’re signing up for before you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.

What Does “Precomputed Loan” Mean?

With a precomputed loan, the lender calculates the total interest charges that would accrue over the life of the loan and then adds it to the principal balance. Your starting balance is a combination of the principal balance and the interest charges. You still make your monthly payments like other types of loans, however, the interest charges remain the same, even if you make extra or early payments on your loan.

If you make minimum payments over the life of your loan, there isn’t much difference between precomputed loans and simple interest loans. However, with a precomputed loan, it’s harder to pay off your loan early to save on interest charges. Since your balance is a combination of interest charges and principal, you can’t specify to the lender that you want to pay more to the principal balance to pay it off faster.

If you are able to pay off the loan before the loan term ends, you must ask your lender for a refund on any “unearned interest.”

💡 Quick Tip: Before choosing a personal loan, ask about the lender’s fees: origination, prepayment, late fees, etc. SoFi personal loans come with no-fee options, and no surprises.

Simple Interest vs. Precomputed Interest

Simple interest is another way lenders calculate interest charges — it’s commonly used for mortgages, student loans, and personal loans. It’s a more straightforward way of calculating interest, where lenders multiply the principal amount by your interest rate.

When you make your monthly payment on your simple interest loan, a portion goes to paying the interest charges and the remaining amount goes toward the principal balance. At the start, you’ll be paying more in interest than principal, but as your balance gets smaller, so will the interest payments.

If you may want to pay off your loan early, a simple interest loan is a better choice because your interest is recalculated based on the shorter term.

Say that your total interest charges should be $1,200 for a 12-month loan. After nine months, you’ve paid $900 in interest, and you decide to pay off the rest of the balance in a single payment. With a simple interest loan, you wouldn’t be required to pay the remaining $300 in interest charges — that’s considered “unearned interest.”

Precomputed interest, unlike simple interest, adds the interest charged onto the principal so your total balance is a combination of interest charges and the principal balance, and you can’t tell the lender you want to make extra payment directly to the balance.

Simple Interest	Precomputed Interest
Interest charges calculated based on the principal balance each month	Interest charges calculated at the start of the loan and added to the principal
You can save money in interest charges if you pay off the loan early	Not much savings if you decide to pay off the loan early

The Rule of 78

The rule of 78 is a quirky method some lenders use to calculate interest for precomputed personal loans. First, they add up all the months in a year, represented by numbers:

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 + 12 = 78.

The lender then calculates how much interest you owe on a loan and distributes the charges by weighting the interest payments in reverse order.

The interest distribution schedule for a one-year precomputed loan would look like this:

Month	Interest Charge
Month 1	12/78
Month 2	11/78
Month 3	10/78
Month 4	9/78
Month 5	8/78
Month 6	7/78
Month 7	6/78
Month 8	5/78
Month 9	4/78
Month 10	3/78
Month 11	2/78
Month 12	1/78

With both simple- and precomputed-interest loans, you pay more interest charges at the start. But the big difference is you have the option to pay off the simple interest loan sooner without penalty. Unlike a precomputed loan, you can tell the lender you want to make extra payments toward the principal to pay down the loan faster.

Because of the way interest is distributed with a precomputed loan, there’s no incentive for a borrower to pay off their loan early.

💡 Quick Tip: Some lenders can release funds as quickly as the same day your loan is approved. SoFi personal loans offer same-day funding for qualified borrowers.

Is Precomputed Interest Legal?

In 1992, the U.S. government banned precomputed loans that use the rule of 78 on terms spanning longer than 61 months. In fact, some states have outright banned using the rule of 78 for consumer loans.

Some loans that use precomputed interest are still legal, though financial institutions rarely use them. That’s because loans that use the rule of 78 are better for lenders than for consumers. Calculating the interest charges requires a complex formula, and there’s no financial incentive to pay off the loan sooner.

Precomputed Loan Amortization

As you pay off your loan, the amount of interest you pay on a precomputed loan will get smaller with each subsequent payment. In the first month of a 12-month loan, you will need to pay 12/78 of the interest charges, the second month 11/78, all the way to the last month where you pay 1/78.

For 24-month loans, you’ll pay 24/300 of the interest charges in the first month, 23/300 the second month, and so forth until you reach 1/300.

To calculate the exact amount you’ll pay each month, you’ll need the total interest charges. Then you can divide it up into the number of payments for your term using the rule of 78.

Let’s say you took out a $7,000 loan for a 12-month term at a 7% interest rate. Assuming you’ll pay $272 in total interest for the entire loan term, here’s how the interest payments are broken down by month:

Amortization Schedule
Month	Interest Paid
1	$41.85
2	$38.35
3	$34.87
4	$31.38
5	$27.89
6	$27.41
7	$20.92
8	$17.43
9	$13.95
10	$10.46
11	$6.97
12	$3.48

You can see by looking at the chart, your interest charges get smaller each month.

Pros and Cons of Precomputed Interest Loans

Although precomputed interest loans seem complicated, there may be some advantages to this form of debt.

Pros of Precomputed Interest Loan	Cons of Precomputed Interest Loan
Interest is similar to a simple loan, if paid on time throughout the full loan term	There’s no financial incentive to pay off the loan early
Fixed interest rate	There’s no flexibility to pay off loan early
Typically comes with fixed payment amounts	Can be hard for borrowers to understand

Recommended: Fixed vs. Variable Rate Loans

How Do You Know If Your Loan Has Precomputed Interest?

You can look over your personal loan agreement to see if it has precomputed interest. Some clues to look for include whether it mentions refunding interest or anything about the rule of 78.

If you’re unsure, you should always contact the lender and ask them to explain how interest is calculated before you sign the contract.

Recommended: Secured vs. Unsecured Personal Loans — What’s the Difference?

Are Precomputed Loans Bad?

Precomputed loans aren’t necessarily bad. You’ll probably pay the same interest as with a simple loan, as long as you pay on time over the entire term of the loan. These loans can be problematic if you think you may want to pay off your loan early.

If you’re trying to save on interest, and you have the means to make extra or early payments, you may be better off avoiding precomputed loans.

Alternatives to Precomputed Loans

Instead of precomputed loans, consider these alternatives:

•  0% credit cards offer cardholders an introductory period (anywhere from 6 months to more than a year) where you can carry a balance without accruing interest. You are usually required to make a minimum payment each month. If you don’t pay off the full balance by the time the intro period ends, you’ll be charged interest.

•  Simple-interest personal loans are a form of installment loan. You can borrow a lump sum to be paid back with interest over the course of a loan’s term (usually a year or more). Lenders typically charge simple interest for these types of loans.

The Takeaway

Whatever type of loan you choose, it’s important to carefully examine your loan documents to ensure you understand what your responsibilities are as a borrower and how much you will be paying in interest charges.

Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. Checking your rate takes just a minute.

SoFi’s Personal Loan was named NerdWallet’s 2023 winner for Best Online Personal Loan overall.

FAQ

Is precomputed interest legal?

Yes, precomputed interest is legal, but the rule of 78 is a complicated and controversial concept that favors financial institutions. The rule of 78 is illegal for all loans over 61 months and in some states altogether.

How do you know if your loan has precomputed interest?

You can check your loan agreement to see if it mentions anything about the rule of 78 or refunds/rebates of interest charges. If you’re not sure, you should ask your lender.

What does “precomputed loan” mean?

A precomputed loan means the lender is charging you precomputed interest, which means your interest charges are added to your principal balance. The starting balance will be a total of your interest charges and principal. While you can pay off a precomputed loan early, there’s not the same financial incentive that you get when you pay off a simple interest loan early.

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Photo credit: iStock/Chainarong Prasertthai

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SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

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The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that incoming and returning college students (and their parents) need to fill out to be considered for federal financial aid. The FAFSA helps students qualify for federal grants and loans, such as the Pell Grant and Federal Direct Subsidized Loans. States and colleges also use the FAFSA to determine eligibility for grants and scholarships.

Unfortunately, the FAFSA is known for being a long, tedious, and complex form to fill out. To help ease confusion — and encourage more families to fill out the form — the Department of Education is rolling out a new streamlined and simplified FAFSA for the 2024-25 school year in December, 2023 (a delay from the usual October 1).

The simplified FAFSA also ushers in a new formula to determine who will qualify for aid and how much they’ll receive. Here’s what you need to know about the FAFSA changes, plus other updates to financial aid.

Why Is the FAFSA Changing?

The Department of Education has long fielded concerns about the complexity and length of the FAFSA. As a result, Congress passed legislation in 2020 — called the FAFSA Simplification Act (FSA) — to make the FAFSA easier for students and their families to complete. The act not only overhauls the FAFSA form, dramatically reducing the number of questions, but also changes the methodologies and formulas used for determining federal student aid eligibility.

The new provisions were designed to be implemented in the 2023-24 school year but, due to delays, the Department of Education has been using a phased approach, with only a few of the new rules appearing on the October 1, 2022, FAFSA. The remaining provisions are set to go into effect for the upcoming 2024-25 award year. The new form is expected to be available in December 2023.


💡 Quick Tip: You’ll make no payments on some private student loans for six months after graduation.

2024-2025 FAFSA Updates

The FAFSA updates include a shorter, simpler-to-fill-out form, along with changes in how your financial aid is calculated. Below, we break it all down.

Shorter Form/Fewer Questions

A major FAFSA change is that the form itself will shrink from an intimidating 108 questions to no more than 36 questions (though some will have multiple parts). The actual number of questions you’ll need to answer (which could be less than 36) will depend on your financial situation. The new form also makes it easier to import income data from your tax records.

The Department of Education is hoping that a shorter, simpler form will encourage more students and their families to fill out a FAFSA and increase access to financial aid.

Questions About Selective Service and Drug Convictions Dropped

The new FAFSA eliminates any questions about whether a student has had any drug-related convictions. A drug conviction will no longer prevent students from receiving Pell Grants.

In addition, the Selective Service registration — which required male students under 26 to enroll in the draft — was removed as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act. This was taken off the FAFSA in 2021. Students are no longer required to register for Selective Service to receive federal aid.

Other Demographic Questions Added

The Department of Education also added a new demographic survey to the signature and submission portion of the FAFSA. Students will fill in certain demographic information, such as their gender, race, and ethnicity before submitting the form. These questions are solely for research purposes (to create statistics on who is and is not applying) and are not factored into aid decisions. While you must fill out the demographic survey, you are allowed to decline the answers.

EFC Becomes SAI

The new FAFSA renames the current Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to the Student Aid Index (SAI). The EFC is a number that colleges use to determine a family’s financial need relative to other applicants. The name, however, caused confusion, since the EFC doesn’t actually represent the amount a family will have to contribute (or pay) for college. You could end up spending more, or less, than your EFC.

Besides the name change, there are a few differences in how EFC/SAI will be calculated. Here are some notable updates:

•  EFC factored in the number of family members in college but SAI does not. Families with more than one child in college no longer have an advantage in receiving aid.

•  The lowest EFC an applicant could receive was $0. The SAI can go as low as -$1,500, making it easier to more accurately determine an applicant’s financial need.

•  SAI will increase the Income Protection Allowance (IPA) that shelters a certain amount of parental income from inclusion in the calculation of total income.

Recommended: 31 Facts About FAFSA for Parents

Getting a Pell Grant Becomes Easier

The FAFSA Simplification Act increases the number of students eligible for a Pell Grant. The maximum awards will now go to all families who fall below the income thresholds for tax filing, or who have adjusted gross incomes below 225% (single) or 175% (married) of the poverty line. In addition, the Act restores Pell Grant eligibility to incarcerated students.

Students will also be able to estimate their eligibility for the grant before they complete the FAFSA.

How Will the FAFSA Changes Affect Students?

The new FAFSA will save time and headaches for all applicants. For many students and their families, the FAFSA changes will also mean more aid. For some, however, the changes will mean less help from the government.

Many families, especially low-income families, will likely get more aid, due to more generous formulas. For example, the IPA will increase by 20% for parents, up to about $2,400 (35%) for most students, and up to about $6,500 (60%) for students who are single parents.

In addition, more families will be eligible for the Pell Grants. Previously, families with incomes higher than $60,000 were generally ineligible for a Pell Grant. Now, students from families earning between $60,000 and $70,000 will likely receive some Pell Grant funding.

On the downside, the number of kids a family has in college will no longer be factored into the formula for the parent allowance. Indeed, families with multiple children in college at the same time may find that they will get less financial aid than they are used to.

Recommended: I Didn’t Get Enough Financial Aid: Now What?

When Does the 2024-2025 FAFSA Become Available?

The FAFSA traditionally opens on October 1 for the following academic year. This year, due to the FAFSA updates taking longer than expected, the Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid announced that the new simplified FAFSA will be available in December 2023 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Even if you’ve filled out the FAFSA in the past, you need to submit the new simplified FAFSA. That’s because you need to complete a FAFSA every year to unlock federal student loans, grants, work-study, and even some private scholarships.

Once you submit the new FAFSA, you’ll receive your FAFSA Submission Summary, which details the information you included on the application and your SAI.

Cash vs. Private Student Loans: Which One Is Better?

Whatever cash you or your family members can save for college will benefit you in the long run, since it will mean borrowing less and paying less in interest. Therefore, cash is king when it comes to paying for college.

However, if you don’t have enough cash for college, you’re far from alone — and you still have plenty of funding options. By filling out the FAFSA, you may be able to access federal aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study, federal subsidized loans (no interest charged while you are in school), and federal unsubsidized loans (interest accrues while you are in school).

If you still have gaps in funding, you may be able to fill them by getting a private student loan. These loans are available through banks, credit unions, and online lenders. Each lender sets its own interest rate and you can often choose to go with a fixed or variable rate. Unlike federal loans, qualification is not need-based. However, you will need to undergo a credit check and students often need a cosigner.

If a student (or their cosigner) has excellent credit, it may actually be possible to get a private student loan with a lower interest rate than a federal loan, particularly if you’re looking at federal PLUS loans for parents or graduate students, which carry higher rates than federal loans for undergraduate students.

Just keep in mind that private student loans may not offer the same protections, such as income-based repayment plans, that automatically come with federal student loans.


💡 Quick Tip: Federal student loans carry an origination or processing fee (1.057% for Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans first disbursed from Oct. 1, 2020, through Oct. 1, 2024). The fee is subtracted from your loan amount, which is why the amount disbursed is less than the amount you borrowed. That said, some private student loan lenders don’t charge an origination fee.

The Takeaway

When the new simplified FAFSA becomes available at the end of 2023, you’ll see a lot of changes, including fewer questions and a switch from EFC to SAI (which will serve the same purpose). Some changes will also take place behind the scenes, including updates to the formulas used to calculate aid eligibility. More students will qualify for Pell grants, but families with multiple children in college may see their award go down.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

Cover up to 100% of school-certified costs including tuition, books, supplies, room and board, and transportation with a private student loan from SoFi.

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Photo credit: iStock/skynesher

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

SoFi Private Student Loans
Please borrow responsibly. SoFi Private Student Loans are not a substitute for federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. You should exhaust all your federal student aid options before you consider any private loans, including ours. Read our FAQs. SoFi Private Student Loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, and applicants must meet SoFi’s eligibility and underwriting requirements. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria for more information. To view payment examples, click here. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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A home title policy — also called title insurance — protects homeowners and lenders from claims and litigation stemming from title defects. Title insurance, according to the American Bar Association, allows for a secure transfer of ownership from one party to another.

To address top questions surrounding home title policies, we’ve compiled this guide. You’ll learn:

•   What is title insurance for a home?

•   How does it work?

•   What are common title issues?

•   What does the home title policy cover?

•   What are the different types of home title policies?

By the end, you still won’t be thrilled to pay this additional cost at closing, but you may understand better what it protects.

What Is a Home Title Policy?

A title policy on a home is an insurance policy that protects against title defects. Title issues aren’t common, but when they occur, the amount of money involved can be massive. Home title policies are required by lenders to protect their investment in your property. That’s right, just like mortgage insurance, it’s not really for you. In fact, these policies are also called lender’s title insurance policies.

Confusingly, you can also buy a home title policy that provides the exact same protection for you: This is called an owner’s title insurance policy. If you want to be completely protected as a homebuyer, you need to purchase both. (Ugh!)

What could go wrong that necessitates this layer of insurance? If, for example, the seller didn’t have the full right to sell the property because there was another property owner and the title company missed this in their title report, the title company is responsible for the error. The title company could pay for litigation costs or payouts for property owners.

Title issues that could potentially arise include:

•   Existing mortgages

•   Undisclosed heirs that have claims on the property

•   Tax or construction liens

•   Property line disputes

•   Judgments involving the property, such as in the case of a divorce

•   Deeds, wills, or trusts with errors

•   Easements or encroachments that may restrict access and/or devalue the property

•   Notary mistakes

•   Errors in public records

•   Fraud and forgeries

💡 Quick Tip: Thinking of using a mortgage broker? That person will try to help you save money by finding the best loan offers you are eligible for. But if you deal directly with an online mortgage lender, you won’t have to pay a mortgage broker’s commission, which is usually based on the mortgage amount.

How Does a Home Title Policy Work?

There are two parts to a home title policy: a title search and a policy issuance. After real estate purchase contracts are written and the property is in escrow, homeowners select a title company to conduct a title search.

In the title search, the title company looks through public records for defects (or problems, like those listed previously). If the search turns up a mortgage lien issue, judgment, or other issue, it will need to be addressed before ownership can be transferred.

If the title search hasn’t revealed any issues, the title company will issue the policy when the transfer of ownership is recorded. The borrower pays a one-time fee for the home title policy in their closing costs.

Recommended: What Is Escrow?

What Does the Home Title Policy Cover?

The title search helps eliminate risk, but it’s still a possibility that title problems can arise. That’s where the title policy for a home comes in. After the policy has been issued, should any additional items come up, the title company will litigate those issues for the benefit of the lender — but only up to the amount of the loan. As the loan balance decreases, so does the amount of home title insurance coverage.

One important thing to note is the home title policy that you get is usually a lender’s title insurance policy. What this means is the lender is protected against legal claims against the home. The borrower’s claim to the home — their equity — is not protected unless the borrower also purchases an owner’s title policy.

💡 Quick Tip: To see a house in person, particularly in a tight or expensive market, you may need to show the real estate agent proof that you’re preapproved for a mortgage. SoFi’s online application makes the process simple.

Home Title Policy Requirements

Home title policies aren’t required by a governing body like a city or state — they’re required by the lender. When a borrower seeks funds for a home mortgage loan, the lender has certain requirements that the borrower must meet in order for them to issue that mortgage. One of these is a home title insurance policy. Borrowers must pay for a home title policy in order to close the loan. Lenders want to make sure the property the borrower selected is free to be bought and sold and their investment is protected.

Recommended: First-Time Homebuyer Programs

Pros and Cons of a Home Title Policy

It’s worth summing up the benefits and drawbacks of a home title policy.

Pros	Cons
The title search can reveal title defects before you close on a home.	Home title policies are required.
The title insurance can litigate up to the amount of the mortgage if there is an issue.	They’re expensive.
	If it’s a lender’s home title policy only, it won’t protect the equity in your home.

When buying a home, you’ll encounter lots of different types of insurance. It’s worth taking a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the definitions.

Types of Home Title Policies

As noted above, home title policies come in two types: lender’s title insurance and owner’s title insurance.

Lender’s home title policies protect the lender from losses that come from title issues or defects. If title issues arise, the title company will cover losses or litigate for the lender up to the amount of the mortgage.

Owner’s home title policies protect the amount of equity an owner has in the home. If someone has a claim or brings suit against the title of the home, it is possible homeowners could lose the amount of equity they have in their home.

Fees for these policies vary widely by state. But for a typical home valued at around $400,000, you can expect to pay about $2,000 to purchase both types of title insurance and to pay for the title search. Fortunately, this is a one-time cost — unlike other types of homeowners insurance you might buy, you won’t have to renew your title insurance every year.

The Takeaway

It’s not exciting to pay for a home title policy, but the expense is more palatable once you understand what it protects. If you purchase both lender’s and owner’s home title policies, you’ll be well protected in the event of an unexpected claim or ownership dispute on your new home.

Looking for an affordable option for a home mortgage loan? SoFi can help: We offer low down payments (as little as 3% - 5%*) with our competitive and flexible home mortgage loans. Plus, applying is extra convenient: It's online, with access to one-on-one help.

SoFi Mortgages: simple, smart, and so affordable.

FAQ

Is it worth shopping around for title insurance?

Title insurance can be costly so it is worth it to shop around. The insurer your lender typically uses might be an affiliate. So there could be a financial benefit to your lender if you use their partner company, but that doesn’t mean there will be a financial benefit to you. Comparison shopping could save you money.

What is the disadvantage of title insurance?

The chief disadvantage of title insurance is its cost, and the fact that it is usually required by a lender. Beyond that, keep in mind that lender’s title insurance only covers the lender in the event of a title problem — it doesn’t protect the equity that you have in the home. For that, you would need a second owner’s title insurance policy.

What is the difference between title and mortgage insurance?

Lender’s title insurance, which is paid for by the borrower, protects the lender in the event that a title dispute arises on the property. Mortgage insurance protects the lender in the event that the borrower defaults on the loan.

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Photo credit: iStock/Wasan Tita

*SoFi requires Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for conforming home loans with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio greater than 80%. As little as 3% down payments are for qualifying first-time homebuyers only. 5% minimum applies to other borrowers. Other loan types may require different fees or insurance (e.g., VA funding fee, FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums, etc.). Loan requirements may vary depending on your down payment amount, and minimum down payment varies by loan type.

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Terms and conditions apply. Not all products are offered in all states. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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You may have watched a movie in which a character pulls out a fancy black credit card and brags about how he has access to unlimited money. The reality is that there is no such credit card. Some credit cards do come with “no preset spending limit,” but even those cards have some sort of controls and restrictions.

When you have a credit card with no preset spending limit, each purchase is evaluated on a case-by-case basis for approval. As long as you are using the card responsibly and regularly paying down your balance, you shouldn’t have any problems with purchases being declined.

Do No-Limit Credit Cards Exist?

While most credit cards do come with specific credit limits, there are cards that intentionally have no preset spending limit. Those card holders never have to worry about managing their available credit. Instead, the issuer will evaluate each purchase as it’s made to determine whether to approve it. The issuer may also provide a tool where you can check beforehand to see if a purchase will be approved.

💡 Quick Tip: A SoFi Credit Card provides access to a line of credit. It’s essentially a short-term loan that you repay each month.

Where Does the Idea of No Limit Cards Come From?

To “average” people who stick to a budget and pay their bills each month, there is something aspirational about a magical no-limit credit card. If you have an average credit limit, you might wonder what it is like to not be encumbered with one. Pop culture plays into this common desire to know what it would be like to be obscenely rich and not have to worry about money.

The Myth of the Black Credit Card With No Limit

In pop culture, the no-limit credit card always seems to be black, and there are ultra-luxury black credit cards. For example, American Express has the Centurion Card, which is a black credit card that is only available by invitation. But while the Centurion card (and other similar cards) don’t come with a preset spending limit, that doesn’t mean there is no limit at all.

Recommended: What Is a Luxury Good?

Pros and Cons of Cards With High Spending Limits

Here’s a quick overview of some pros and cons of high limit credit cards:

Pros	Cons
More convenient to pay for larger expenses	It may be tempting to spend beyond your means
Harder to go over your credit limit	If your card is stolen, you may be at a higher risk before you notice
A high credit limit can help your credit utilization ratio, when used responsibly	A higher credit limit could mean more debt to pay down
A higher spending limit may allow you to earn rewards like unlimited cash back

💡 Quick Tip: A SoFi cash-back credit card is a great way to earn rewards without a complicated redemption process. Even better, SoFi doesn’t place limits on the amount of cash-back rewards you can earn.

What Does It Take to Have a High Limit Credit Card?

Most credit card issuers use a variety of factors when deciding both whether to approve you for a credit card and what credit limit to extend. Here are a few factors that may come into play:

A Good Credit Score

Most cards that come with no preset spending limit are considered premium or luxury credit cards. That means that you will likely need good or excellent credit to be approved.

Recommended: 8 Tips for Maintaining a Good Credit Score

A High Income

Another factor that can help you to get a high limit on a credit card is a relatively high income. Banks generally use an applicant’s income as one factor in determining a credit limit for a card. If you have a low annual income, a bank may be hesitant to issue you a credit card with a high spending limit.

An Existing Relationship With the Bank

Many banks are interested in building a relationship with their customers, especially ones they consider to be high-value. Showing that you are a loyal customer can encourage a bank to extend you additional credit. Ways to build your relationship with a bank might include opening checking or savings accounts, taking advantage of their credit card rewards program, or responsibly using existing accounts with them.

The Takeaway

While some credit cards come without a preset spending limit, all credit cards have some limitations in place. There is no publicly available credit card that will allow you to spend and spend with no consequences. If you have a card with no preset spending limit, the issuer will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to approve each purchase.

Looking for a new credit card? Consider a rewards card that can make your money work for you. With the SoFi Credit Card, you earn cash-back rewards on all eligible purchases. You can then use those rewards for travel or to invest, save, or pay down eligible SoFi debt.

The SoFi Credit Card offers unlimited 2% cash back on all eligible purchases. There are no spending categories or reward caps to worry about.¹

Take advantage of this offer by applying for a SoFi credit card today.

FAQ

Is there a credit card that has no limit?

There aren’t really credit cards with no limit at all (like you might see in the movies). But there are credit cards that don’t have a preset spending limit. Instead, the credit card issuer will evaluate your overall financial information to determine whether to approve any purchases. This might include your income, net worth, relationship to the bank, and previous spending and payment history.

How do people get no limit credit cards?

Most cards that come with no preset spending limit are luxury credit cards, which means that you’ll need to have good or excellent credit. Having a high income is another factor that can improve your odds of being approved. You might also consider strengthening your relationship with the issuing bank, like opening a checking account or other credit cards.

What does no limit credit card mean?

A no-limit credit card generally does not mean a credit card with absolutely no limit at all. Instead, many times people are referring to a credit card with no preset spending limit. When you have a card with no preset spending limit, you won’t have a specific available credit or credit limit — instead, the bank will determine whether to approve each transaction based on your overall financial information and/or past spending history.

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Photo credit: iStock/Delmaine Donson

The SoFi Credit Card is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A. pursuant to license by Mastercard® International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi cardholders earn 2% unlimited cash back rewards when redeemed to save, invest, or pay down eligible SoFi debt. ^1
1 When you elect to redeem rewards points as cash deposited into your SoFi Checking and Savings account, as a statement credit to a SoFi Credit Card account, as fractional shares into your SoFi Invest account, or as a payment toward your SoFi Personal Loan or Student Loan Refinance, your rewards points will redeem at a rate of 1 cent per point. For more details please visit the Rewards page. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. SoFi Securities LLC is an affiliate of SoFi Bank, N.A.

Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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If you’re like most people, credit card interest and taxes are two things you don’t want to pay. Luckily, paying one may help you pay less for the other. Credit card interest and fees are tax-deductible in some cases. That means every dollar you pay in credit card interest might reduce a dollar of your taxable income.

If that sounds too good to be true, there is a catch — credit card interest and fees are typically only considered tax-deductible if they are legitimate business expenses. If you don’t run a business, or the interest and fees were not incurred in the operation of a business, you generally won’t be able to deduct them on your tax return.

How Credit Card Interest Works

When you make a purchase with a credit card, you don’t have to pay for it right away. Instead, you are borrowing the money for the duration of your statement (usually one month). At the end of your statement balance, you must make at least a minimum payment. But if you don’t pay the full statement amount, you will be charged credit card interest on any outstanding balance. Charging this interest is one way that issuers fund credit card perks and benefits like credit card rewards.

💡 Quick Tip: When choosing a credit card, look for one that aligns with your existing spending habits. For example, some cards offer rewards on airline purchases for frequent travelers, while others, like the SoFi Credit Card, offer cash-back rewards on all purchases.

Is Credit Card Interest Tax Deductible?

Whether or not credit card purchase interest charges are tax-deductible depends mostly on whether it is personal or business credit card interest.

Business Credit Card Interest

Business credit card interest may be tax-deductible in certain situations. Generally speaking, in order to deduct any expenses, they must be incurred in the regular operation of the business. The IRS does not have requirements about what type of credit card is used, as long as the interest is incurred on business expenses.

You may be able to deduct credit card interest on a personal credit card used for business purchases. However, most credit card agreements prohibit the use of personal credit cards for business purposes on a regular basis.

Not surprisingly, you cannot typically deduct credit card interest on personal expenses charged to a business credit card. And if you pay for personal and business expenses with the same credit card, you may not be able to deduct the full amount of interest. Consult with your accountant or tax advisor if you have questions about what can and cannot be deducted.

Personal Credit Card Interest

Personal credit card interest is not tax-deductible under any circumstances. You cannot deduct interest that you pay for personal expenses on a credit card. That’s one more reason to always pay your credit card statement in full, each and every month. That way you aren’t charged any credit card interest.

Recommended: How to Do Taxes as a Freelancer

Are Credit Card Fees Tax Deductible?

Just like credit card interest, the deductibility of credit card fees largely depends on whether they are for business expenses.

Business Credit Card Fees

Credit card fees that are incurred as business expenses are generally considered deductible. This includes credit card annual fees, overdraft fees, foreign transaction fees, late fees, and balance transfer fees. As long as the credit card is used for business purposes, any fees charged by the credit card issuer will be tax-deductible.

💡 Quick Tip: When using your credit card, make sure you’re spending within your means. Ideally, you won’t charge more to your card in any given month than you can afford to pay off that month.

Personal Credit Card Fees

In contrast, personal credit card fees are not generally considered deductible. Any fees that you are charged by your credit card issuer that are not business expenses cannot be deducted from your taxable income.

Recommended: Can You Use a Personal Checking Account for Business?

Avoiding Interest and Fees vs Tax Deductions

While it’s important to understand that you may be able to deduct credit card interest and fees if they are business expenses, avoiding credit card interest may be the more prudent thing to do. If you are in a 30% tax bracket, that means deducting one dollar of interest will save you 30 cents. But if you pay your balance in full, you won’t be charged any interest and save the full dollar.

The Takeaway

Some credit card fees and interest is deductible on your annual tax return. Generally speaking, you cannot deduct personal credit card interest or fees. You may be able to deduct them if they are legitimate business expenses. Keeping your business and personal expenses separate can help you determine which fees and interest you may be able to deduct.

Looking for a new credit card? Consider a rewards card that can make your money work for you. With the SoFi Credit Card, you earn cash-back rewards on all eligible purchases. You can then use those rewards for travel or to invest, save, or pay down eligible SoFi debt.

The SoFi Credit Card offers unlimited 2% cash back on all eligible purchases. There are no spending categories or reward caps to worry about.¹

Take advantage of this offer by applying for a SoFi credit card today.

FAQ

Can you deduct credit card interest as business expense?

As credit card interest rates rise, the amount of interest that you’re charged each month on any unpaid balances also rises. So you may be wondering if you can deduct credit card interest from your taxable income. The good news is that as long as the interest is a legitimate business expense, you can generally deduct the interest.

Are credit card fees tax deductible?

It’s important to understand how different credit card-related items affect your taxes. Credit card rewards are generally not considered taxable, while some credit card fees may be tax-deductible. You may be able to deduct most credit card fees as long as they are considered legitimate business expenses. Personal credit card fees are not generally considered deductible.

Can you write off personal credit card annual fees?

No, in nearly all cases, you cannot take a tax deduction for personal credit card fees. Only credit card fees that are legitimate business expenses are tax-deductible. However, it’s important to understand that the IRS does not make any distinction between what might be marketed as a “personal” card or a “business” credit card.

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Photo credit: iStock/Cameron Prins

The SoFi Credit Card is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A. pursuant to license by Mastercard® International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

SoFi cardholders earn 2% unlimited cash back rewards when redeemed to save, invest, or pay down eligible SoFi debt. ^1
1 When you elect to redeem rewards points as cash deposited into your SoFi Checking and Savings account, as a statement credit to a SoFi Credit Card account, as fractional shares into your SoFi Invest account, or as a payment toward your SoFi Personal Loan or Student Loan Refinance, your rewards points will redeem at a rate of 1 cent per point. For more details please visit the Rewards page. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. SoFi Securities LLC is an affiliate of SoFi Bank, N.A.

Tax Information: This article provides general background information only and is not intended to serve as legal or tax advice or as a substitute for legal counsel. You should consult your own attorney and/or tax advisor if you have a question requiring legal or tax advice.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

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