Who can a 529 beneficiary be changed to?
A 529 account owner can change the beneficiary at any time without tax consequences if the new beneficiary is a member of the family. A member of the family is defined in Internal Revenue Code section 529. If the new beneficiary is not a member of the family, the change will be treated as a non-qualified distribution.
Can you switch beneficiary of 529?
529 plans are designed to help save for the future education costs of a single beneficiary. However, the 529 plan account owner may change the beneficiary to a qualifying family member of the current beneficiary at any time without tax consequences by completing a form on the 529 plan’s website.
Is transferring ownership of a 529 a taxable event?
If changing the ownership of 529 plans from grandparents to parents is recommended, there should not be any adverse tax consequences. The IRS allows one tax-free rollover per 12-month period for 529 plans with the same beneficiary.
Can 529 be used for other family members?
It is still possible to help friends and other non-family members pay for college. 529 plans accept gift contributions from any third party, regardless of whether the gift giver is a member of the family.
Can a child contribute to their own 529 plan?
So, who can contribute to a 529 plan? Just about anyone can make a contribution, either to an account they own or to an account owned by someone else. The beneficiary can be your child, niece or nephew, godchild, grandchild, friend or even yourself.
Is there an age limit on 529 plans?
Money can be kept in a 529 plan indefinitely. 529 plans can be used for graduate school, not just undergraduate school, and can be passed on to one’s children. There is also no age limit on contributions to a 529 plan.
How often can you change 529 beneficiary?
twice per calendar year
529 plan account owners may change 529 plan investment options twice per calendar year. However, there is an exception to this rule when the investment change is submitted with a beneficiary change request.
Should 529 be in child’s name?
While 529 plans do affect college financial aid, keeping the plan in a parent’s name with the child as the beneficiary will minimize the hit, explains Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of savingforcollege.com. Aid is calculated based on the notorious Free Application for Federal Student Aid (Fafsa).
Can a grandparent set up a 529 plan?
Yes, you most certainly can open a 529 account as a grandparent — you can generally name anyone as a beneficiary of a 529 account. These accounts can be a useful financial tool for both grandparents and their grandchildren.