Most people are familiar with 529 plans as a way to save for college expenses. What you may not know is that gifts to a 529 plan are tax deductible. This can be a great way to reduce your taxable income and help out a loved one at the same time.
Here’s what you need to know about gifting to a 529 plan.
How to Understand the Gift Tax on the 529 Plan Contributions?
A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage saving for future education expenses. Contributions to a 529 plan are not tax deductible, but withdrawals are tax free as long as they are used for qualified educational expenses. Qualified expenses include tuition, room and board, books and supplies, and certain other expenses such as transportation.
If you’re thinking about starting a 529 plan for your child’s education, you may be wondering if contributions are tax deductible. The answer is no – contributions to a 529 plan are not tax deductible. However, withdrawals from the account are tax free as long as they are used for qualified educational expenses.
So while you won’t get a deduction on your taxes for contributing to a 529 plan, the money in the account can grow tax-free and be withdrawn tax-free when it’s time to pay for college.
Credit: www.savingforcollege.com
Do You Get a Tax Deduction for Contributing to a 529 Plan?
If you’re wondering whether you can get a tax deduction for contributing to a 529 plan, the answer is maybe. It depends on the state in which you reside. Some states offer a tax deduction or credit for contributions made to a 529 plan, while others do not.
If your state offers a tax deduction or credit, it’s typically based on a percentage of the contribution amount, up to a certain limit. For example, if your state offers a 20% tax deduction up to $5,000 per year, and you contribute $2,500 to your 529 plan this year, you’ll be able to deduct $500 from your taxes (20% of $2,500).
If you’re not sure whether your state offers a tax deduction or credit for 529 contributions, check with your financial advisor or the website of your state’s department of revenue.
Can a Grandparent Contribute to a 529 Plan And Claim a Tax Deduction?
A grandparent can contribute to a 529 plan on behalf of a grandchild and claim a tax deduction in many states. There are yearly contribution limits, which vary by state, but are generally around $15,000 per year. The investment earnings in the 529 plan grow tax-deferred and can be withdrawn tax-free if used for qualified education expenses such as tuition, room and board, books, and fees.
To claim the tax deduction, the grandparent must file a gift tax return (Form 709) and indicate that the gift is being made to a 529 plan. The grandparent can then take an annual exclusion from gift taxes of up to $15,000 per beneficiary (grandchild). If the total value of all gifts made to the beneficiary during the year exceeds $15,000, then the excess amount will be subject to gift taxes.
However, any amounts contributed to a 529 plan are not counted towards this $15,000 limit.
So in short, yes – a grandparent can contribute to a 529 plan and claim a tax deduction on their federal income taxes. Be sure to check with your state’s regulations as they may have different rules regarding state income taxes.
How Much Can a Grandparent Give to a 529 Plan?
A grandparent can contribute up to $15,000 per year to a 529 plan without incurring any gift tax consequences, as of 2018. This is the annual exclusion amount for gifts, which means that a grandparent can give this much money to as many people as they want in a given year without having to pay any gift taxes. If a grandparent wants to give more than $15,000 to a 529 plan in a single year, they can do so by using the 5-year averaging method.
This allows them to spread their contributions over five years, which effectively increases the annual exclusion amount to $75,000 (5 x $15,000).
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a way to save for your child’s future education expenses, a 529 plan may be a good option. One of the benefits of a 529 plan is that gifts to the account are tax deductible.
Here’s how it works: if you make a gift of $14,000 or less to a 529 plan in one year, you can elect to treat the gift as if it were made over a five-year period for purposes of the gift tax.
This means that you won’t have to pay any gift tax on the money until after the five-year period is up.
In addition, if you make a lump sum contribution of more than $14,000 to a 529 plan, you can elect to spread the gift out over five years for purposes of the gift tax. This could potentially save you thousands of dollars in taxes down the road.