It’s not required to report withdrawals used for qualified higher education expenses on your federal tax return. Each year in which a withdrawal is made, an IRS Form 1099-Q (Qualified Tuition Program Payments) will be issued:
- For withdrawals made payable to the student or a school, the 1099-Q is sent to the student.
- For withdrawals made payable to the account owner, the 1099-Q is sent to the account owner.
As of 2024, gifts of up to $18,000 per year, or up to $36,000 if married, to any one person are gift tax free.
Yes, but the same qualified higher education expense may not qualify for more than one tax benefit (e.g., tax-free withdrawals AND a federal tax credit).
Generally, withdrawals from a 529 plan are exempt from state or federal income tax when used for qualified higher education expenses.
Non-qualified withdrawals are taxable as ordinary income and, unless an exception applies, are subject to a federal penalty of 10 percent. Exceptions to the non-qualified withdrawal rules include the investment earnings of a withdrawal made due to the
student’s death, disability or receipt of a scholarship.
Each state’s tax rules may differ in its treatment of income from a 529 plan, so it’s important to check with your state or consult a tax advisor regarding specific tax consequences taking withdrawals. Find information about tax benefits for education including examples, in IRS Publication 970, also available by calling the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-1040.
Earnings on 529 plan grow federal and state tax–deferred and are excluded for income tax purposes when used for qualified higher education expenses. You pay no income tax as your contributions grow.
Yes. Some states allow a 529 plan to be used to cover tuition costs for private and religious K-12 education, up to $10,000 per child per calendar year.
It’s never too late to open a 529 account. Children or adults of any age can enroll in most 529 savings plans. Although, some restrictions may apply depending on the specific plan.
Yes. Many families choose to enroll in multiple accounts, however, there are maximum contribution limits. For example, the maximum contribution for Virginia529 is $550,000 across all accounts for a single student.
Most 529 plans do not have residency requirements. For example, you do not have to be a Virginia resident to open an Invest529 account (except the Tuition Track Portfolio). Most plans cover expenses for out-of-state schools, but rules may vary by plan.
Generally, anyone can open a 529 account as long as they are 18 years of age or older and a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident, while the student must be a U.S. citizen or legal U.S. resident to be named to an account. The account owner may also be a U.S. trust, corporation, partnership, nonprofit organization, custodian, guardian or other entity.
529 plans don’t need to be exclusively used for college! Because of the flexibility, a 529 plan can be used towards any eligible professional or vocational school and even for registered apprenticeship programs. If higher education isn’t in your student’s immediate plans, you can hold the funds in the account for their future use. Alternatively, you can change the student on the account to an eligible family member or even yourself for your own education. The money in the account is always yours. You can withdraw your original investment, although you may be subject to taxes or penalties on investment earnings or non-qualified expenses.