The Pay As You Earn (PAYE) repayment plan for federal student loans is not directly related to income tax, and it does not necessarily result in higher taxes.
However, it's important to understand that any amount of your loans that is forgiven under an income-driven repayment plan like PAYE is considered taxable income by the IRS in the year that it's forgiven. This means that if you have a large amount of debt forgiven under PAYE, you may owe a significant amount of income tax on that forgiven amount.
For example, if you have $50,000 in student loans forgiven under PAYE, you would need to report that $50,000 as taxable income on your tax return for the year that the loan is forgiven. Depending on your tax bracket and other factors, this could result in a significant tax bill.
It's important to consider the potential tax implications of any student loan repayment plan before choosing a plan. If you're concerned about the tax implications of loan forgiveness, you may want to consider speaking with a financial advisor or tax professional for guidance.