If Your Kids Are College Bound You Will Need 529 Savings

Feb 12
08:18

2009

Paul Abbey

Paul Abbey

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Parents in the United States are encouraged to save for their child's future higher education expenses through section 529 plans, a tax-advantage investment vehicle.

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If you have college bound kids,If Your Kids Are College Bound You Will Need 529 Savings Articles you should be informed of the existence of the 529 savings plan, one of the best ways to save for your kids' future. This savings plan investment option available to any college or university in the country.

Many parents are not sure whether or not the 529 is the best choice but a calculator should be able to help you with that. You can compare your potential income in your taxable account with what you would earnunder a 529. Accounting for how time you are allottedprior to starting college you have the option to use the 529 college savings plan.

Weigh your options

Prior to starting using an estimator, there are some things you might remember. First, most calculators are only designed to work with college savings plans. So consider a tuition plan that is prepaid if you know for a fact that the beneficiary from the plan will be attending a school supporing the 529. the 529 guarentees rates for the future and taking money from your plans are tax-free.

Tax-free withdraws for those qualified the colleges costs under a 529 plan are seen as gifts for tax purposes This applies for annual contributions less that the amount of 12k for individuals, but up to 24 k for married couples that are doing join contributions. You can also make a lump payment totaling five years of contributions which would be 60,000 dollars for individuals or 120,000 dollars for married couples.

You should remember that you will be required to prepare a new plan for each child or grandchild but remember limits would apply to the accounts individually.

Investement gains that you get from your 529 is subject to the lower capital gains rate, if held for more than one year. The same rule applies for qualifying dividends. However, short-term gains as well as interest will be taxed at a regular rate.

How the tax savings calculator works

By default, a tax savings calculator will require this information:  the number of years remaining until the child enrolls in college the rate you estimate for a college fund in the event that you invested in a taxable account rather than a 529 plan, No matter to if you make one large payment or installments and the years you will contribute, and the expected return.

Results will give the estimated value at college age, after tax value at college age and, the amount you will have and what is gained from the 529.

in the end estimates are just what they are - estimates so you’ll be clueless as to guess the amount until you begin investing. But reading and preparing yourself prior to selecting a plan will help you determine better what you should get.