Is Room And Board Covered By 529

This includes tuition fees books supplies equipment and in some cases room and board.

Is room and board covered by 529.

Room and board are covered by 529 withdrawals as long as you have an education savings plan generally the prepaid plan cannot be used to cover these expenses and you are at least a part time student. Paying for off campus housing with a 529 plan your student s room and board could be covered tax free for an entire 12 month lease even if he or she only takes classes for nine months of the year. If a 529 plan distribution is used to pay for room and board it is a tax free qualified distribution in certain circumstances and a taxable non qualified distribution in other circumstances. Some of the benefits of a 529 plan include tax free growth and tax free withdraws if the money is used for qualified education expenses but one thing that stops many would be 529 owners is understanding what exactly a 529 plan will cover what exactly are qualified.

The student must be enrolled as a regular student on at least a half time basis. Dorm room furniture and decorations. To calculate these add up tuition and fees room and board books and supplies any school related special services and computer costs and then deduct any costs already covered by tax free educational assistance. The irs does not require that students live on campus for room and board expenses to qualify but there is a limit on the amount of expenses that are covered.

While investors can use 529 funds to pay for a college s room and board fees housing arrangements off campus also count. Opening a 529 plan to save for your child s college expenses can be a great way to build savings while reaping tax benefits. Off campus housing and rentals are qualified up to the cost of room and. Qualified 529 plan expenses include costs required for the enrollment or attendance at an eligible college or university.

Non qualified 529 distributions may also be subject to recapture if a state tax deduction was claimed. However that doesn t mean you can use your plan money to decorate your room in the latest trendy style. Room and board costs make up a large portion of a student s total college bill second only to tuition you can use a 529 plan to pay for room and board but only if certain requirements are met. You won t be able to.

529 plans offer tax free withdrawals when the funds are used to pay for qualified education expenses. Room and board includes the cost of housing and the cost of a meal plan. In general this includes costs of attending an eligible college or university. As of 2012 529 plan funds could be.