Questions abound regarding 529 education savings plans. Most come from misunderstandings about what a 529 education savings plan really is and what it can do for you. It is actually very simple: a 529 education savings account helps cover the costs of higher education and allows you to avoid paying federal taxes on earnings and withdrawals from the fund. 

Let’s debunk some common myths and learn about the realities of 529 education savings accounts.
 

Reality: The increasing number of “free college” programs and scholarships, including the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship, can help students and families cover tuition and fee costs at eligible in-state public institutions. They are a great additional tool for families planning for higher education. But tuition is just one of many costs involved with a college education. Tax-free withdrawals can be made from your 529 account to cover other qualified education expenses, including room and board, textbooks, laboratory fees, special needs assistance, even computers, printers, software and internet access, if required for courses. According to the College Board, the average total annual cost of college for a full‐time, in‐state student at a public four‐year university is over $27,000. Over a third of that is for tuition but those other expenses cost nearly $17,000 per year. 

Reality: A 529 plan is for much more than college. If your child chooses not to attend a traditional four- or two-year college, they can use the 529 funds for apprenticeship expenses, vocational training, credentialing expenses and more. Leftover funds can be rolled over into a Roth IRA in the name of the beneficiary. 

You can also change the beneficiary on the account to another qualified family member, including siblings, nieces and nephews, grandparents, first cousins, and even yourself or your spouse. 

Reality: The money in a 529 plan is not the student’s asset, but the parent’s and is treated as such in terms of federal financial aid. These funds are considered when determining federal financial aid, but have minimal impact: eligibility for FAFSA can be reduced by no more than 5.64% of a 529 plan’s account value each academic year. Additionally, distributions from a grandparent—or any other third-party owned 529 fund—don't have to be reported on the FAFSA.

Reality: Withdrawals from a 529 savings account can be made for wide-variety of qualified educational expenses. This includes in-state and out-of-state colleges and universities, community colleges, vocational schools and apprenticeship expenses. The funds in a 529 account can also be used for up to $20,000 a year in K-12 tuition and expenses. Leftover funds can also be rolled over into a Roth IRA in the name of the beneficiary. You can view the full list of qualified educational expenses here.

Reality: With The Education Plan, New Mexico’s 529 education savings plan, you may open an account with as little as $1. Contributions can be made at any time, in any amount, whether you do so via lump sums, checks, rollovers, or automatic withdrawals from your paycheck. You control the account, including the amount you choose to add to the fund, as well as when and how.

Reality: Any United States citizen over 18-years-old with a Social Security number or tax ID number and a United States residential address may open a 529 education savings account. The beneficiary and the account holder do not need to be related. That means family and friends can open accounts for your children too.

Reality: You may open an account in any state, not necessarily the one in which you reside. Each plan differs, however, in terms of rules and tax breaks. For example, if you are a New Mexico resident, you can claim a state tax deduction on 100% of contributions to your 529 plan from your state taxable income every year. New Mexico is one of only four states that provides an unlimited state tax deduction for contributions to its 529 plans.

Reality: It’s best to start early, but it’s never too late to open a 529 education savings account. Anyone can open an account at any time in their child’s life, with any amount, with contributions from any person. Encourage grandparents, other relatives, and friends to contribute, and watch your savings grow during those high school years as investment earnings are reinvested automatically back into the account. 

Reality: There is no age limit to who can open, contribute, or withdraw from a 529 savings account for qualified education expenses. Maybe your child decides to go to medical school at age 25, you decide to finish your graduate degree, or Grandma wants to take classes part-time at the local community college. All are possible with 529 education savings accounts.

Reality: Savings in a 529 account are your assets, not your child’s. The account holder controls the funds. Even when your child turns 18 years of age, they have no legal right to the money. So, don’t worry about them using that money for expensive personal items such as a wide-screen television or a trip to Europe. Those funds are yours to distribute and are tax-free when used for qualified education expenses.