![]() ![]() You start with $0 invested in a 529 when your child is born. Let’s say you pay a 32 percent marginal tax rate. Not sure exactly what it looks like? Here’s an example: Why 529s are Powerful: An Example When you don’t pay income taxes on growth, your account compounds more quickly and gives you more money to work with when it’s time to pay for private K–12 education or college. When used properly, the tax benefits on your 529 can be a powerful way to help save for your child’s education. That’s why it’s important to follow the rules when using 529 funds. If you use the money for a non-qualified expense, then you’ll have to pay taxes plus a 10 percent penalty on any earnings-not original contributions-you withdraw. The key, though, is that the money must be used for the beneficiary’s benefit, and it must be used for qualified educational expenses. ![]() Contributions and growth may also carry state tax benefits, which we’ll discuss below. This means the money is to be used for the child’s education, but the parent or other account custodian actually controls the funds.Īs long as the money is used for the beneficiary’s allowable educational expenses-including up to $10,000 per year in private K–12 tuition expenses or college-related tuition, fees and other expenses-it grows federal income tax-free. But the most common use is for parents or other relatives to open a 529 account with a child as the beneficiary. Adults can even use them to save for continuing educational expenses. 529 Plan BasicsĪnyone can open a 529 plan with anyone else as a beneficiary. However, tax laws like this one are extremely complex, so be sure you understand all the implications of using a 529 plan for K–12 expenses before you go this route. This could be helpful for some parents who want to send their children to private elementary or secondary schools. ![]() Parents could get federal income tax benefits as long as they used the money for certain qualified educational expenses-all at the postsecondary level.īut the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed in 2017, expanded the allowable uses of these accounts to include up to $10,000 in annual private K–12 tuition expenses, as well. These plans, created as part of the Small Business Job Protection Act in 1996, were originally meant to give parents a tax-advantaged way to save for college expenses. If you’ve done much research into how to save for your child’s college education, you’ve probably heard of 529 plans. ![]()
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