529 plans help pay for qualified educational expenses and can be set up by anyone on behalf of a designated beneficiary. Many parents choose to contribute small amounts from birth as a part of overall education planning. The contributions are tax-deductible on state returns (in 34 states) and many states feature no holding period. This means that if you have an older child who is ready to start college, you can add money to the plan, use those funds to pay for university, and still receive your state tax deduction in the same year (it’s called the 529 tax deduction loophole).
Most 529 Plans have links that allow friends and family members to contribute directly to a plan, or contribute on behalf of your child. The new tax laws also allows you to use a 529 plan to pay for private, or parochial school tuition. Some Grandparents even use 529 plans as a part of estate planning to reduce their tax liability. If you time it well, your small contributions can have a large impact.
(Before you make major financial decisions, please check with a qualified accountant or financial advisor).
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