What is a 529 Plan?

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The 529 plan is a college savings plan designed to help families set aside funds for future college expenses. The 529 plan originate within states or institutions, rather than the federal government (such as with college loans). With tuition costs rising rapidly every year, states have created funds (the original model being Michigan) in which state residents can pre-purchase college credits for the future, which go into a guaranteed savings pool.

These savings can be used for tuition, books, and other education-related expenses at accredited colleges and universities. Even educational institutes can offer the prepaid 529 savings plans, but not the regular savings plans; you must attain those from a financial institution. While these plans are administered at the state level, they are allowed by a section in the Internal Revenue Code 26, section 529.

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What are the Two Types of 529 Plans?

There are two types of 529 plans. Every state has at least one of these two choices; some have both.

  • Prepaid plans — Buying future tuition at today’s rate. The program pools the money and invests on a large scale, with a guaranteed payout.
  • Savings plans — Provides a variable rate of return usually based on stock or bond funds, but is subject to market risks.

There is a misconception that state-sponsored 529 plans are only intended for families that send their kids to a state school. Not true. The prepaid tuition plans will let you transfer the value of your contract to private and out-of-state schools (depending on state). The regular savings plans, however, have no such restrictions, but they must be used on an accredited school.

What are the Benefits of a 529 Plan?

You are in control

You make the contributions, so you are in control of the account; the beneficiary has no rights to the fund. You can pull it all out at any time (you will incur a 10% penalty tax though). You may also change the beneficiary at any time.

Income tax breaks

Contributions are not deductible on your federal return; however, your investment grows tax-deferred, so basically it becomes federally tax-free. Your own state may have additional perks, such as offering upfront deductions.

Flexible

Anyone is eligible to utilize a 529 plan. Plus, the amounts you can put in are substantial; $300,000 per beneficiary in many states. There are no income limitations and no age restrictions, making them great for grandparents wanting to help save for their grandchildren’s future.

Is a 529 an Asset?

Thankfully, in the 2006 Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, a law was enacted that prevents 529 plans from being figured in the federal student aid eligibility formula. That means your 529 plan will not be treated as an asset. This is great news for those filling out FAFSA and hoping for the most financial aid opportunity.  Now keep in mind, your particular school may still set their own rules when handing out need-based scholarships when they discover 529 accounts in the family.

There is one piece of sort-of bad news: contributions are treated a gift to the named beneficiary for gift tax. The good news is that it also qualifies for the $13,000 annual gift tax exclusion, so most people will not incur the gift tax every year. Another way around that is to do that five-years worth of “gifts” in one year and you will not incur any gift tax, but remember you can not contribute for the following 4 years to that beneficiary.


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Aya Andrews

Editor-in-Chief

Aya Andrews is a passionate educator and mother of two, with a diverse background that has shaped her approach to teaching and learning. Born in Metro Manila, she now calls San Diego home and is proud to be a Filipino-American. Aya earned her Masters degree in Education from San Diego State University, where she focused on developing innovative teaching methods to engage and inspire students.

Prior to her work in education, Aya spent several years as a continuing education consultant for KPMG, where she honed her skills in project management and client relations. She brings this same level of professionalism and expertise to her work as an educator, where she is committed to helping each of her students achieve their full potential.

In addition to her work as an educator, Aya is a devoted mother who is passionate about creating a nurturing and supportive home environment for her children. She is an active member of her community, volunteering her time and resources to support local schools and organizations. Aya is also an avid traveler, and loves to explore new cultures and cuisines with her family.

With a deep commitment to education and a passion for helping others succeed, Aya is a true inspiration to those around her. Her dedication to her craft, her community, and her family is a testament to her unwavering commitment to excellence in all aspects of her life.

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ValueColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

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