Section 529: College Savings Plans Female student doing homework with a smile

A 529 plan is a state-sponsored education savings program that allows an individual to save in a tax-deferred account to pay for qualified costs of a beneficiary's elementary, high school, or college-level education at any accredited school in the United States. Unlike Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, which excludes joint filers with adjusted gross incomes (AGIs) above $220,000 and single filers with AGIs above $110,000, there are no income restrictions on those contributing to the plan. However, contributors will need to be mindful of any gift tax limitations if contributions to the beneficiary exceed $15,000 in a given year.

529 plans come in two categories: Prepaid Tuition Plans and College Savings Plans. Listed below are some of the features of a College Savings Plan.

Taxation of Withdrawals 529 plan withdrawals are federal income tax-free as long as the money is spent on tuition, room, board, books, or other qualified expenses. Non-qualified withdrawals will require a 10% penalty on investment gains (although, there are some situations where the penalty can be avoided) and the withdrawal will be taxed as ordinary income.¹ Contributions Unlike Coverdell Education Savings Accounts where annual contributions are limited to $2,000 annually, contributions to 529 College Savings Plans are essentially unlimited. Many states, however, do tend to limit contributions once plan assets have reached a defined maximum (typically $230,000 - $500,000).

Further, individuals can give up to $15,000 per individual annually (or $75,000 under a special 5-year provision²) per beneficiary without incurring the federal gift tax.

Flexibility and Control Changes with the new tax law now allows assets to be used to pay for qualified elementary, high school, and college expenses at accredited colleges and universities nationwide that are eligible to participate in certain federal student aid programs. These include public and private colleges and universities, graduate schools, two-year community colleges, and vocational-technical schools.

The donor retains control over the account. Unlike custodial accounts, under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, the money in a Section 529 College Savings Plan does not automatically become property of the child at age 18. The donor also may change beneficiary as long as it is within the same family.

Minimum Investment Many plans have low initial minimums of $500 or $1,000 and can usually be arranged for automatic investments of as little as $50 or $100 a month. Summary You have many choices when saving for a child or grandchild's college education. Be sure to consider the changes to the 529 plan under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

¹An investor's home state may only offer favorable state income tax treatment for investments made in a plan offered by such state. Selecting a state plan where you are not a resident may limit your ability to take advantage of any available state income tax exemptions or state tax deductions for contributions that your resident state offers. Certain state plans may impose a penalty for "non-qualifying" withdrawals and if you were able to deduct the original contributions on your state income tax return, there may be a state "recapture" of income tax due.

²This requires that no further gifts are made over the five-year period and that the gift is treated as a series of five equal annual gifts on the next federal gift tax return after the gift is made. Failure to survive the five-year period may result in a portion of the gift being included in the donor's estate for estate tax purposes.