Information on 529 plans
A 529 plan can help you save money for college and grow those savings faster—plus it offers tax benefits that other college savings methods do not.
Key Takeaways
- 529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plans that are intended to encourage college savings.
- There are two types of 529 plans: college savings plans and prepaid tuition plans.
- Beginning in 2018, up to $10,000 per year of 529 plan funds can be used for private, public, or religious elementary, middle, and high school tuition.
- Contributions to a 529 plan are not tax-deductible for federal taxes, but some states provide a state tax deduction for contributions.
Saving for education
529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plan named after Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. The intention of 529 plans is to encourage college savings. Every state and the District of Columbia, and even some educational institutions sponsor a 529 plan. There are two types of 529 plans: college savings plans and pre-paid tuition plans. Investment options, expenses and other specifics vary from state to state.
Pre-paid tuition plans
While states can offer both types of 529 plans, educational institutions can only offer pre-paid tuition plans. With a pre-paid tuition plan, you are effectively purchasing a future education at an in-state public institution at current prices. In some cases, you can also pre-purchase room and board expenses. State governments typically guarantee investments in pre-paid tuition plans, and require either the owner or the beneficiary to be a resident to benefit from the plan.
College savings plans
Your contributions to a college savings plan function somewhat like an Individual Retirement Account. In a college savings plan, the investments you choose are subject to market risk with no guarantee that it will increase in value.
When the student is ready to use the funds for school, you can make tax free withdrawals up to the amount of qualified education expenses. College savings plans typically have fewer limitations in terms of the age or residency of the account owner or beneficiary and does not restrict your use of the funds to schools within your state. Additionally, college savings plans generally have more varied investment choices.
TurboTax Tip:
The owner of a 529 plan can choose where and when to make distributions from the account, change beneficiaries, and even reclaim the balance of the account, subject to taxes and penalties.
K-12 school tuition
Beginning in 2018, up to $10,000 per year of 529 plan funds can be used for private, public, or religious elementary, middle, and high school tuition. The law change also created the ability to make a tax free transfer of 529 funds into an ABLE account.
Tax benefits of 529 plans
For both types of 529 plans, contributions are not tax-deductible for your federal taxes although some states provide a state tax deduction for contributions. As long as you make withdrawals only to pay for qualified higher education expenses, you won't pay income tax when you put the money to use. Qualifying expenses typically include books, tuition, mandatory fees, room and board and any necessary equipment.
Owners retain control over plan
With a 529 plan, the owner remains in control of the plan, and the beneficiary or student has few, if any, rights. As the owner of a 529 plan, you have the ability to change the beneficiary of the account at any time, and you can choose where and when to make distributions from the account.
Subject to the options available in your specific plan, you can choose where to invest the money in the account. If you are willing to pay taxes and penalties, you can even reclaim the balance of the account at any time without your beneficiary's permission.
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