I don’t think making him an authorized payer to your student loans will impact the gift tax analysis described in this article.

However, I’ve just updated the article to include the latest numbers from 2023, which bumps that number up to $17,000. The strategies described in the article should work (spreading it out over a couple of years or dipping into the unified credit), but I’d suggest having your grandfather talk with a tax professional to make sure that nothing gets overlooked.

It is possible. Have you considered waiting until you are married? That might make this issue much simpler to deal with. (Also, I’d hold off on paying off any federal loans until the Biden Forgiveness program happens).

Great question. If she makes the payment directly to the school for tuition, there are no gift tax concerns.

That is a really complicated question. My hunch is that the limit or the unified credit are your best options, but I really don’t know. At this point we starting to get really far outside my student loan expertise.

I’d suggest chatting with a tax attorney to figure out your options and strategy.

That is a very complicated question. Taxes regarding gifts from foreign persons is pretty far outside my area of expertise.

That said, I did a bit of investigating, and it looks like it will depend upon the amount given and whether or not the parents are expatriates. However, you should definitely consult your tax professional for questions and planning.

This page from the IRS breaks down the rules for taxes on international gifts.