Safeguarding Your Information And Online Transactions Strong Technologies And Technical Controls
We use the following methods to help keep your online transactions and personal information safe and secure.
Username and password requirements
To help prevent unauthorized access, we prompt you to create a unique username and password when you first access your account. A password is a string of characters used to access information or a computer. Passwords help prevent unauthorized people from accessing files, programs, and other resources. When you create a password you should make it strong, which means it should be difficult to guess or crack. See below for hints in creating a password that would be difficult to crack.
A Strong Password
- Minimum of eight characters long
- Includes numbers, symbols, upper-case and lower-case letters
- Does not contain your username, real name or company name
- Does not contain a dictionary word
- Is significantly different from the previous passwords
Image verification during login
Before you enter your online password, we ask that you verify your personalized security image. This image would be one that you selected during the creation of your web account. Once the image you have selected is displayed, you can be confident that you are accessing our website, as opposed to a fake site that may be attempting to “phish” for your personal information. If you ever log in and do not see the image you’ve selected or the image is incorrect, STOP, do not input your password. Please immediately report this to your plan’s customer service team.
Firewalls
Saving For College: 529 College Savings Plans
Opening a college savings account is a smart way to invest in the education of a family member, a friend or even yourself that often comes with tax benefits.
There are multiple ways to save for higher education, and what works best for you depends on your personal needs and life goals. In this installment of our Saving for College series, well explore 529 college savings plans.
Seek 529 Tax Benefits Outside Your State
Some states, including California and North Carolina, dont offer a 529 state tax deduction at all. Then there are states, such as Texas and Florida, which dont levy a state income tax, which means you cant lower a tax burden you dont have.
If youre unlikely to generate much savings by claiming a state 529 tax deduction, it could be a smart move to shop for savings plans outside your state. Here are a few tips to follow when you compare 529 savings plans:
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How To Claim A 529 Plan Deduction
If youre interested in deducting 529 plan contributions on your taxes, the first step is determining whether you live in a state that allows it. If you do, the next step is estimating how much of your contributions you can get deduct. Again, this can vary based on the state deduction limits or requirements and your filing status.
Youll need to add up the amount you contributed to each 529 plan you own. You should be able to get this information from your plans annual statement. If youre filing your state taxes using an online tax software program, there should be a question about 529 plan contributions included. You can then enter in the amount you contributed so the program can calculate what amount, if any, is deductible.
Coming Soon: A New Break For Grandparents
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, passed in 2020, includes a provision called the FAFSA Simplification Act that is intended to streamline the Free Application for Federal Student Aid . Thats the form that most colleges, states, and other scholarship providers use to determine students financial aid packages. The simplification act was originally scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2023.
Under the old rules, distributions from a grandparent-owned 529 plan were considered untaxed income to the student and had to be reported on the FAFSA. That income potentially reduced the students eligibility for financial aid.
Under the new rules, the FAFSA will no longer ask about such distributions. Note, however, that the U.S. Department of Education has delayed implementation of this new rule, and it may not go into effect until the 20242025 school year. Its also possible that it wont go into effect at allif Congress changes the tax laws before then.
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Recontribution Of Refunded Amounts
If a student receives a refund of qualified education expenses that were treated as paid by a qualified tuition program distribution, the student can recontribute these amounts into any qualified tuition program for which they are the beneficiary within 60 days after the date of the refund to avoid the need to figure the taxable part of the qualified tuition program distribution. Please consult with your tax professional regarding the proper reporting and record retention requirements.
Iowa Taxpayers Can Use College Savings Iowa 529 Assets To Pay K
Qualified withdrawals from your account can be used to pay for tuition, room and board , books, supplies, fees and equipment required for enrollment or attendance at any eligible educational institution in the United States or abroad, as well as computers or certain peripheral equipment, certain computer software or internet access and related services that are to be used primarily by the Beneficiary during any of the years the Beneficiary is enrolled at an eligible educational institution.
Additionally, qualified withdrawals include fees, books, supplies and equipment required for participation in an apprenticeship program registered and certified with the Secretary of Labor under the National Apprenticeship Act, and amounts paid as principal or interest on any qualified education loan of the beneficiary or a sibling of the beneficiary provided that the total amount that may be used from all accounts for repayment of loans of a beneficiary may not exceed $10,000. You should consult your tax advisor for more information.
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Are 529 Contributions Tax Deductible
Never are 529 contributions tax deductible on the federal level. However, some states may consider 529 contributions tax deductible. Check with your 529 plan or your state to find out if youre eligible.
A 529 plan allows you to save for college or higher education while receiving some type of tax benefit. Earnings from 529 plans are not subject to federal tax and generally not subject to state tax when used for qualified education expenses such as tuition, fees, books, as well as room and board. The contributions made to the 529 plan, however, are not deductible.
For more information about 529 Contributions, visit:
Getting married? Having a baby? Buying a house? Go through your life events checklist and see how each can affect your tax return with the experts at H& R Block.
Recent Legislation Allows Rollovers From 529 Plans To Able Plans
Recent legislation allows rollovers from 529 plans to ABLE plans without federal tax consequences. For Iowa state income tax purposes, a rollover from College Savings Iowa but will also not entitle the taxpayer to a deduction to the extent that the rollover was previously deducted as a contribution to College Savings Iowa. College Savings Iowa 529 participants who are residents of other states should consult with a tax advisor about their state laws. Rollover amounts from a 529 account apply towards the overall limitation on amounts that can be contributed to an ABLE account within a taxable year. Any amount rolled over that is in excess of this limitation shall be includable in the gross income of the distributee. This provision applies only to distributions made no later than December 31, 2025.
For more information about the tax benefits offered by College Savings Iowa, refer to our Program Description.
*The earnings portion of nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.
**If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. Adjusted annually for inflation.
- What are the basics of 529s?
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You Can Transfer Wealth With A 529 Plan
Contributing to a 529 plan also can help grandparents or others reduce the size of their taxable estates. Also, it is possible to accelerate your gifting timetable by contributing five years worth of 529 plan contributions per beneficiary. Contributions can be as much as $140,000 for couples or $70,000 for individuals into one year by using the annual gift exemption. But be aware that within the five-year period, you wont be able to make additional gifts to the beneficiary.
Carryforward Of Excess 529 Plan Contributions
Ohio is also one of 12 states that allow taxpayers to carryforward excess 529 plan contributions to deduct in future tax years. That means if the grandparents want to contribute more than Ohios annual limit of $4,000 per beneficiary, they may deduct the excess in future years in increments of $4,000 per year, until the entire contribution amount is deducted.
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Tax Deductions For Iowa Taxpayers
Iowa taxpayers who are Participants can deduct up to $3,522 for 2022 of their contributions per Beneficiary, including rollovers, in determining their adjusted gross income for Iowa income tax purposes. This deduction applies to each Beneficiary account they own and contribute to. For example, married Participants who contribute to separate accounts on behalf of their two children can deduct up to $14,088 in 2022. **
$3,522 + $3,522 + $3,522 + $3,522 = $14,088
Deduct up to $3,522 per beneficiary account.
Note: Iowa taxpayers can contribute to their College Savings Iowa 529 accounts until the Iowa state income tax-filing deadline, which is generally April 30. For Example, Iowa taxpayers can deduct up to $3,474 in contributions from their adjusted gross income for 2021 up to the tax deadline of May 2,2022.
Qualifying contributions are deducted on line 24, item “g” of your Iowa income tax return. Most tax software programs will ask for this information and correctly indicate the appropriate reason for the deduction.
Do I Have To Pay Taxes On Withdrawals From A 529 College Savings Plan
As long as 529 plan withdrawals are used for qualified education expenses, they are tax free. In addition to colleges and universities, that now includes K12 education, vocational schools, and approved apprenticeship programs. Note that tax-free withdrawals for K12 expenses are capped at $10,000 per year.
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Are 529 College Savings Plan Contributions Tax Deductible
Most states provide a tax deduction or credit for contributions to one of their states 529 plans, and several states provide a deduction for contributions to any states plans. The federal government provides no tax deduction for 529 contributions, although withdrawals are tax free as long as they are used for qualified education expenses.
Enjoy A Federal Gift Tax Incentive
You can contribute up to $16,000 per year without triggering federal gift taxes. Or you can choose a special election that allows you to treat a single $80,000 contribution as if it were made over a five-year period.***
Gifts in excess of these amounts may be subject to federal gift taxes. For more information, consult a qualified tax advisor.
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How To Open A 529 Plan
The first step to opening a 529 plan is choosing one. Start by reviewing your states plan, since it may offer added tax benefits to residents. You should also compare 529 plans from other states and review factors such as performance and fees.
Next, youll need to select a beneficiary. Naming your child or grandchild as beneficiary is common, but youre not bound by who youre related to. Almost anyone can be named beneficiary of the accounteven yourself.
You can apply and open a 529 plan online via the plans website or through a broker. Youll need to provide personal details about yourself and the beneficiary, including your Social Security number , date of birth and contact information.
The last step is to fund the plan and select your desired investment portfolio. You should be able to easily transfer money directly from an outside account. You might also consider setting up automatic transfers so you can consistently add to the account each month.
When youre ready to select your portfolio, see what the plan offers. Many people opt for age-based portfolios, which automatically adjust the asset allocation of the account as the child ages. The closer the child gets to college-age, the more conservative the investments become. You can change the investment strategy later if you choose.
Coordination With Coverdell Education Savings Account Distributions
If a designated beneficiary receives distributions from both a qualified tuition program and a Coverdell Education Savings Account in the same year and the total of these distributions is more than the Beneficiarys adjusted qualified higher education expenses, the expenses must be allocated between the distributions.
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Looking For Something Specific
2 Account owners may deduct for Nebraska income tax purposes contributions they make to their own account up to an overall maximum of $10,000 . Contributions in excess of $10,000 cannot be carried over to a future year. For a minor-owned or UGMA/UTMA 529 account, the minor is considered the account owner for Nebraska state income tax deduction purposes. The minor must file a Nebraska tax return for the year their contributions are made to be eligible for a tax deduction for their own contributions. In the case of a UGMA/UTMA 529 account, contributions by the parent/ guardian listed as the Custodian on the UGMA/UTMA Plan account are also eligible for a Nebraska state tax deduction. back
3 A donor may elect to treat a contribution to a beneficiarys account as made ratably over a five-year period. As a result a donor may make a contribution to a beneficiarys account of up to $80,000 without any negative gift tax consequences, so long as the donor does not make any additional contributions to the account during that tax year or any of the succeeding four calendar years. A Federal Gift Tax Return is required to be filed. Please consult with your tax or legal professional. If the donor dies before the end of the five-year period, the portion of the contribution allocable to years after the donors death will be includible in the donors estate for federal estate tax purposes. back
NOT FDIC INSURED* NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE
Plans Can Now Be Used For K12 Education
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act brought several changes to 529 savings plans, the most common type of 529. In particular, the new law expanded 529 savings plans to cover K12 education.
Previously, 529 plans, also referred to as qualified tuition programs , were reserved for postsecondary education expenses. Those expenses included tuition and mandatory fees, room and board, textbooks, and other essentials. Withdrawals used for these qualified expenses were tax free.
Under the TCJA, parents can now make tax-free withdrawals from a 529 account to pay for tuition at K12 schools as well. However, those withdrawals are limited to $10,000 per year, while withdrawals for college costs can be whatever amount is needed to cover the qualified expenses. Anything beyond that is taxable.
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Wondering How To Save For College
A 529 plan is an excellent way to save for the future, but only if youâve done your homework. As a student loan attorney, Iâm well-versed in the ins and outs of saving for college and would love to help you select the best plan. Just schedule a free 10-minute consultation.
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Taxable Portion Of A Distribution
The part of a distribution representing the amount paid or contributed to a qualified tuition program doesnt have to be included as income. This is a return of the investment in the plan.
The designated Beneficiary generally doesnt have to include in income any earnings distributed from a qualified tuition program if the total distribution is less than or equal to adjusted qualified education expenses.
To determine if your total distributions for the year are greater or less than the amount of qualified education expenses, you must compare the total of all qualified tuition program distributions for the tax year to the adjusted qualified education expenses. Adjusted qualified education expenses are the total qualified education expenses reduced by any tax-free educational assistance. Tax-free educational assistance includes: the tax-free part of scholarships and fellowship grants veterans educational assistance the tax-free part of Pell grants employer-provided educational assistance and any other non-taxable payments received as educational assistance.
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Understanding The Tax Benefits Of 529 Plans
Strategies to fund college education costs are garnering a heightened level of interest in recent years as student loan debt begins to balloon and the rising costs of college education continue to spike. In fact, the increasing cost of a college education has significantly outpaced national inflation by an average of 3.4% per year since 2005. According to CollegeBoard.org, four years at a private nonprofit college, including tuition, fees, and room and board, costs roughly $175,000 and a public four-year in-state college, while less expensive, costs close to $80,000. Many Americans are turning to student loans to fund the cost of college education, placing a strain on their finances well beyond graduation. However, you can plan ahead and ease the burden by utilizing the tax advantageous 529 College Savings Plan. While you have likely heard about 529 plans, you might not know all of the tax benefits of utilizing this type of plan to fund college education costs.
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