Is Room And Board Covered By 529

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.

Is room and board covered by 529.

As of 2012 529 plan funds could be. But if you are using your 529 plan for room and board expenses it s smart to keep those receipts. Colleges typically have a room and board budgets for students who live on campus in college owned or operated housing for. The student must be enrolled as a regular student on at least a half time basis.

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. While investors can use 529 funds to pay for a college s room and board fees housing arrangements off campus also count. 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. Opening a 529 plan to save for your child s college expenses can be a great way to build savings while reaping tax benefits.

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. Starting january 1 2018 this definition is expanded to include up to 10 000 in k 12 tuition expenses per beneficiary per year. Qualified 529 plan expenses include costs required for the enrollment or attendance at an eligible college or university. Off campus housing and rentals are qualified up to the cost of room and.

In general this includes costs of attending an eligible college or university. However that doesn t mean you can use your plan money to decorate your room in the latest trendy style. Room and board includes the cost of housing and the cost of a meal plan. This includes tuition fees books supplies equipment and in some cases room and board.

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. You won t be able to. 529 plans offer tax free withdrawals when the funds are used to pay for qualified education expenses. Non qualified 529 distributions may also be subject to recapture if a state tax deduction was claimed.