Question

withdtawals of section 529 account eatninhs are;

Answer 1

Money saved in a 529 plan can be withdrawn tax-free to pay for qualified education expenses, which include costs required for the enrollment and attendance at in-state, out-of-state, public and private colleges, universities or other eligible post-secondary educational institution. Qualified 529 plan expenses also include up to $10,000 per year in K-12 tuition expenses.

It’s up to the 529 plan account owner to calculate the amount of the tax-free distribution and how they want to receive the funds. Withdrawal requests can usually be made on the 529 plan’s website, by telephone or by mail.

Here are four steps to help you navigate the 529 plan withdrawal process and avoid paying taxes and penalties on your savings.

Step 1 – Calculate your qualified education expenses

529 plan account owners can withdraw any amount from their 529 plan, but only qualified distributions will be tax-free. The earnings portion of any non-qualified distributions must be reported on the account owner’s or the beneficiary’s federal income tax return and is subject to income tax and a 10% penalty.

To calculate a 529 plan beneficiary’s qualified education expenses, first add up:

• College expenses , including tuition, fees, books, supplies and equipment, computers and room and board if the student is enrolled on at least a half-time basis
• K-12 tuition and fees (up to $10,000 per year)

Next, subtract any tax-free educational assistance, including:

• Tax-free scholarships
• Educational assistance through a qualifying employer program
• Veteran’s educational assistance

Next, subtract the amount of any expenses used to justify the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) or Lifetime Learning Tax Credit (LLTC).

For example, a beneficiary who claims the maximum $2,500 AOTC, has $10,000 in qualified expenses and won a $2,000 tax-free scholarship may withdraw $4,000 tax-free from a 529 plan:

$10,000 - $4,000 (used to generate AOTC) - $2,000 (scholarship) = $4,000 tax-free 529 plan distribution

In this example, if the 529 plan account owner withdraws more than $4,000 the excess distribution will be considered non-qualified. The earnings portion of the non-qualified distribution is taxable, however, the 10% penalty may be waived on a non-qualified distribution up to $2,000 (the amount of the beneficiary's scholarship) . Other exceptions to the 10% penalty include:

• Tax-free educational assistance
• Receipt of education tax credits
• Attendance at a U.S. Military Service Academy
• Death or disability
• Return of excess distributions

Step 2 – Determine when to withdraw

Distributions should be taken during the same year in which the qualified expenses were paid. For example, do not include second semester tuition expenses that were paid in December of the previous year.

Step 3 – Decide which 529 plan account to withdraw from

If the beneficiary has more than one 529 plan, consider withdrawing from a parent-owned 529 plan account first. Funds withdrawn from a grandparent-owned 529 plan count as student income on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and may hurt the student’s eligibility for need-based financial aid.

One workaround is to wait until after January 1 of the student’s sophomore year of college to take a withdrawal from a grandparent-owned 529 plan (assuming the student will graduate in four years). Since the FAFSA uses tax and income information from two years prior, there will be no subsequent year’s FAFSA to be affected by the distribution. If the student will graduate in five years, the grandparent 529 plan should be used after January 1 of the student’s junior year.

Step 4 – Complete a withdrawal request

Parents can withdraw 529 plan funds by completing a withdrawal request form online. Some plans also allow 529 plan account owners to download a withdrawal request form to be mailed in or make a withdrawal request by telephone.