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WHILE 529 COLLEGE savings plans have drawbacks, they have emerged as perhaps the best choice for parents looking to sock away money for college. A new, added benefit: Thanks to the 2017 tax law, up to $10,000 can be withdrawn from these accounts each year to pay for education costs for kindergarten through 12th grade.
The plans, named 529 after the relevant section of the federal tax code, allow you to save huge sums every year. Moreover, you can contribute no matter how high your income. Your savings grow tax-free as long as the money is used for qualified education expenses. Many states even offer state tax deductions or credits for contributing.
For college-financial aid purposes, the plans are typically considered a parental asset, which means their impact on aid eligibility is far less than if they were deemed the student’s asset. If you don’t use all the money for one child’s education, you can change beneficiaries and use the account to help another child. To learn more, go to SavingforCollege.com.
For well-heeled parents, 529 plans can be especially attractive. In 2025, you can’t give another person more than $19,000 without worrying about the federal gift tax, up from $18,000 in 2024. But with a 529 plan, both parents could contribute five times that sum, or $95,000 each in 2025, and count it as their gift for the next five years. That gets the money growing tax-free more quickly, which potentially is a significant benefit. This might also be a smart strategy for wealthy grandparents.
What about the drawbacks? Some plans have high expenses, but you can sidestep that problem by favoring lower-cost plans. You can change your investment selection just twice a year, which means 529 plans aren’t good for those inclined to trade. Finally, if you don’t use the money for education and instead simply withdraw it, you’ll face income taxes and possibly tax penalties on the tax-deferred growth.
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Article: Strings Attached
With the new rules on student loans, will 529 plans become obsolete?
For instance, even for those that missed the $10,000 or $20,000 loan forgiveness, moving forward the amount of repayment is capped at 5% of discretionary income (which is much lower than actual income) for 10 or 20 years, at which point the remainder is forgiven. Also, the government pays for all interest so the loan amount never increases.
On it’s face, this seems like a no-interest loan with low payments that has the potential to be partially forgiven. What is the point of 529 plans in this environment?