In this article, you’ll learn what has changed under the new rule and how grandparents can leverage it to support their grandchild’s educational pursuits.
Understanding the 529 Account
What exactly is a 529 college savings account? It’s a special savings account designed to help individuals, including grandparents, set aside money for future college expenses. Contributions aren’t federally tax-deductible, but the good news is that earnings within the account grow tax-free. When funds are withdrawn for qualified education expenses, they remain untaxed.
What The New Rule Changes
When the account owner is a dependent student or custodial parent, the total value of the 529 plan is reported as an investment asset on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Previously, if a grandparent owned the 529 plan, any distributions were considered untaxed income for the student, potentially affecting financial aid eligibility. The upcoming change eliminates this concern.
In a nutshell, a 529 plan owned by a grandparent will no longer require reporting on the FAFSA. Even more impactful is that distributions from this grandparent-owned 529 plan will not be deemed as untaxed income for the student. This opens up opportunities for grandparents to contribute to their grandchild’s education without jeopardizing financial aid eligibility.
Maximizing Grandparent Contributions
It’s important to keep the following in mind when you make contributions to a 529 account for a grandchild:
1 | Funds Must Be Used For Qualified Educational Expenses
Grandparents can use 529 plan funds for a range of qualified educational expenses, including tuition, room and board, books, supplies, laptops, and internet access. However, certain expenses like insurance, student health fees, transportation, and extracurriculars aren’t covered and may incur a ten percent penalty if 529 plan funds are used toward these expenses.
2 | The Annual Gift Exclusion
While grandparents can contribute to their grandchild’s 529 plan, it’s essential to be mindful of the federal annual gift exclusion, which is the amount of money a person can gift to someone else without needing to file a gift tax return. The limit currently stands at $18,000 for an individual and $36,000 for those filing jointly with a spouse. A special rule allows gift givers to spread larger one-time gifts across five years to stay within their lifetime gift exclusion.
3 | Reconsider Payments Made Directly to The School
Distributions directly paid to the school from grandparent-owned 529 accounts won’t affect aid eligibility. However, for now, it’s recommended to pay the grandchild directly.
4 | Timing Matters
When withdrawing funds from the 529 plan, it’s crucial to do so within the same tax year as the educational expenses. This strategic move ensures smooth financial transactions and adherence to tax regulations.
5 | Watch Your Withdrawal Limits
The amount withdrawn from all 529 plans should be no more than the total cost of the qualified educational expenses billed by the school. Excess withdrawals may incur a 10 percent penalty, but there’s a 60-day window to rectify the situation without penalties.
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