A college degree can offer a wealth of job opportunities and earning potential. Higher education is expensive and may require some careful financial preparation. A 529 college savings plan is one way to save for education with some relative flexibility in how the money can be spent.
Who Can Give to a 529 Plan?
Just about anyone can make a contribution, either to an account they own or to an account owned by someone else. The beneficiary can be your:
- Child
- Niece or nephew
- Godchild
- Grandchild
- Friend
- Yourself
Here's some more information to consider.
Who Can Own a 529 College Savings Plan?
529 plans are available to all U.S. citizens and resident aliens of legal age. Resident aliens also require a SSN. Families of all income levels can potentially benefit from 529 plans. Not only do these plans have the potential to grow tax-deferred, but you might not have to pay federal or state taxes on that money when you pay for qualified education expenses. If you're the account owner, you must designate a beneficiary who will receive the money in the account.
You can change the beneficiary at any time to another member of the family. You can make a lump sum contribution to a 529 plan or pay into it over time. The account owner is not the only one who can contribute to a 529 plan. 529 plans accept contributions from third parties by check or electronic deposit. 529 plans are also investments and come with market risk, including the potential to lose some or all of the principal amount invested.
Can Adults Be Beneficiaries of 529 Plans?
There is no age limit for 529 plan beneficiaries. You can take advantage of potential tax benefits as long as the money is spent on qualified education expenses for the beneficiary. This includes college expenses such as:
- Tuition
- Fees
- Books
- Supplies
Maximum Amount Spent Per Beneficiary
Adults may use a 529 plan to pay for their continuing education at any eligible institution, including public and private colleges, community colleges and vocational schools.
You can also use your 529 plan to help pay down student loans and pay for apprenticeship programs. For student loan repayments, you can spend up to $10,000 on the principal or interest on a qualified student loan of the designated beneficiary or the designated beneficiary's sibling.
Can You Give 529 Plan Contributions as Gifts?
Many 529 plans offer easy ways to ask for and receive contributions from grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends and other loved ones. Parents might consider asking for a 529 plan contribution instead of a traditional holiday or birthday present. Contributing to someone's savings can be more meaningful and lasting than a toy or game.
You can make fairly large 529 plan gifts without incurring federal gift taxes. Consulting with a tax professional can help you better understand the implications of giving financial gifts.
Annual Federal Gift Tax
What Are Some 529 Plan Ownership Considerations?
Whether you are a parent, grandparent or anyone else who wants to help someone save for their education, it's important to understand the rules around owning a 529 plan. These savings plans offer the same potential federal tax advantages regardless of who owns the account, but some other benefits are only available to the account owner.
In some states, residents may deduct all or a portion of their annual contributions from income tax. However, some states only allow the account owner to claim a tax deduction. Anyone who is making a 529 plan contribution should consider checking their state's rules regarding potential tax benefits and consulting a tax expert.
A student’s 529 plan assets may have an impact on their financial aid eligibility, but the impact typically depends on who owns the account. When a parent or dependent student owns the 529 plan, the assets are generally considered a parental asset on the FAFSA. This usually results in a relatively low effect on financial aid calculations.
Recent changes to federal financial aid rules have improved the treatment of grandparent-owned 529 plans. Starting with the 2024–25 FAFSA, distributions from these accounts are no longer counted as untaxed student income. This change helps reduce the risk of lowering a student’s aid eligibility when grandparents or other non-parental relatives contribute.
If you have questions about how a 529 plan might influence your family’s financial aid strategy, consider speaking with a registered representative for guidance based on your specific situation.
The Bottom Line
529 plans can be an effective way to save for anyone's future education costs. Understanding who can contribute to an account, and the other rules about ownership, could help you maximize your potential benefits and potentially reach your savings goal faster.
Help a loved one’s education by contributing to their 529 plan. Invest Today
Sources
- What's New - Estate and Gift Tax. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/whats-new-estate-and-gift-tax.
- Understanding the 529 plan "grandparent loophole". https://investor.vanguard.com/investor-resources-education/education-college-savings/529-grandparent-loophole.
