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How unused 529 assets can help with retirement planning

Key takeaways

  • Starting in 2024, 529 account holders will be able to transfer up to a lifetime limit of $35,000 to a Roth IRA for a beneficiary.
  • The Roth IRA rule can help Roth IRA owners avoid taxes and penalties for nonqualified withdrawals.
  • It can also help people who want to fund a Roth in years when their income may be too high to contribute.

A 529 account can be a useful addition to a financial plan for a child's education.

But these accounts sometimes can create uncertainty about what happens to the money used to fund them. After all, the beneficiary may decide not to go to college. Or they may not need the money if they get a scholarship or some other financial aid. They may also decide to go to a cheaper school, or might qualify for employer educational assistance, among other circumstances.

Fortunately, recent legislative changes may put some of these concerns to rest, as distributions from 529 accounts can soon be used to give the same beneficiaries a retirement boost as well. Starting in 2024, you'll be able to convert tax- and penalty-free up to a lifetime limit $35,000 in a 529 to a Roth IRA owned by the 529 beneficiary for at least 15 years, subject to annual Roth IRA contribution limits. (Note: The annual contribution limit and income limits used would be the beneficiary's, not the parent's, and conversions apply only to Roth IRAs, not to traditional IRAs.)

The new provision is part of the SECURE 2.0 Act, passed by Congress at the end of 2022, which overhauled parts of the American retirement system. In addition to the 529 rule, it also increased contribution amounts for older workers into qualified accounts, as well as the age at which retirees must start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from such accounts. The legislation also provided a boost to younger workers, allowing for employer matching into retirement accounts for student loan payments, and for the establishment of emergency funds in qualified plans, among other things.

Find out more about SECURE ACT 2.0 in Viewpoints: SECURE 2.0: Rethinking retirement savings.

About 529s

529s have numerous tax advantages.

Among them, individual contributions up to $17,000 per year, and $34,000 per married couple, are not considered taxable gifts to the beneficiary. Additionally, in 2023 you can front-load a 529 plan (giving 5 years' worth of annual gifts of up to $17,000 at once for a total of $85,000 per person, per beneficiary) without having to pay a gift tax.1

The money in the account can also grow tax-deferred, and you may contribute up to the 529 plan's maximum contribution limit. While there are no federal deductions for 529s, some states offer deductions on in-state plans. Others may offer tax breaks on 529 plan contributions in any state, or may use a tax credit. You should check your home state plan or the beneficiary's for potential state tax advantages.

529s, penalties for nonqualified expenses, and Roth distributions

Given the expense of higher education today, it may seem like a stretch that money in a 529 would go unused. Nevertheless, if you or the account's beneficiary decide to use the account funds for nonqualified expenses, you may be subject to income tax and a 10% federal tax penalty on any earnings associated with the distribution. That's where a conversion to a Roth IRA could make sense. However, there are several things to consider before going ahead with such a transfer.

  • The 529 plan must be held for the designated beneficiary for at least 15 years.
  • Annual conversions can't exceed the annual Roth IRA contribution limit.
  • Additionally, the amount of 529 account funds converted to a Roth IRA may not exceed the aggregate amount contributed to the 529 plan account (including earnings on those contributions) in the 5 years prior to the Roth IRA conversion distribution date.

Good to know: You can change the beneficiary of the 529 account to another eligible individual, such as a child, grandchild, or eligible relative to fund an education. However, if the child is in a younger generation than the original designated beneficiary, the funds may be considered a gift for tax purposes. You should consult with a tax professional regarding your specific circumstances.

Meet Carol

Let's look at a hypothetical example. Carol is 22, and her parents have set up a 529 account for her, with total plan assets of $30,000 ($20,000 in contributions, and $10,000 of gains.)

Rather than attend college or a qualifying vocational school, she decides to work as a freelance graphic designer. So she does not use the funds her parents set aside for her in a 529 plan.

Carol's parents don't want to pay taxes on the money in the account, as they would have to do if they were to use it for nonqualified or noneducational expenses. In addition to paying federal income taxes at their ordinary income tax rate, they may owe a 10% federal penalty tax on any earnings associated with the distribution.

How Carol's 529 could be taxed

Tax rate 25%
Penalty rate 10%
Total taxes $3,500
For illustrative purposes only. The taxes and federal penalty tax are on any earnings associated with the distribution.

But with SECURE 2.0, Carol's parents can convert the excess assets (up to a lifetime limit of $35,000) into a Roth IRA for Carol tax-free. Due to annual contribution limits, this strategy would take multiple years to fully transfer the remaining 529 plan assets.

Transferring assets from Carol's 529 to a Roth IRA

IRA contribution limit: $6,500

Year Rollover to Roth IRA Remaining 529 assets
2023 $6,500 $23,500
2024 $6,500 $17,000
2025 $6,500 $10,500
2026 $6,500 $4,000
2027 $4,000 $0
The IRA contribution limit is assumed to remain the same over the duration of the conversions. For illustration purposes, the assets are not assumed to grow over the duration of the conversions. Carol is assumed to not make any IRA contributions of her own during the duration of the conversions and has income lower than the applicable income limits to contribute to a Roth IRA.

Over time, the $30,000 can provide a significant boost to Carol's retirement savings.

Carol's Roth IRA assets over time

Carol's age 27
Carol's retirement age 67
Carol's Roth assets $30,000
Hypothetical rate of return 7%
Carol's assets at retirement $449,234
This hypothetical example illustrates the potential value of yearly transfers to a Roth IRA for 5 years and assumes an average annual return of 7%. This does not reflect an actual investment and does not reflect any taxes, fees, expenses, or inflation. If it did, results would be lower. Returns will vary, and different investments may perform better or worse than this example. Periodic investment plans do not ensure a profit and do not protect against loss in a declining market. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

The illustration assumes the individual is age 27 today with a balance of $30,000 in Roth assets, retiring at age 67. The rate of return is assumed to be 7%.

Income considerations for 529 rollovers

Unlike regular Roth contributions, which have modified adjusted gross income limitations, conversions to a Roth IRA from a 529 aren't similarly restricted at this time. Such a transfer would be subject to Roth IRA annual contribution limits. However, there may be instances where the 529 beneficiary is not eligible to transfer the full amount of the annual Roth IRA contribution limit from the 529 because the 529 beneficiary had no income or small income during a calendar year, made the maximum contributions to a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA during the same calendar year, or had a relatively large income.2

Important to know: IRA contributions require sufficient earned income. At this time it is unclear if sufficient earned income would be applicable for 529 conversions to Roth IRAs.

Further guidance from the IRS may clarify or change the interpretation of the legislation. So it's always best to consult with a financial or tax professional regarding your specific circumstances. In the meantime, starting next year the beneficiary of your 529 account will have more options, whether that's paying for school or beefing up their retirement savings.

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This information is intended to be educational and is not tailored to the investment needs of any specific investor.

1. In order for an accelerated transfer to a 529 plan (for a given beneficiary) of $85,000 (or $170,000 combined for spouses who gift split) to result in no federal transfer tax and no use of any portion of the applicable federal transfer tax exemption and/or credit amounts, no further annual exclusion gifts and/or generation-skipping transfers to the same beneficiary may be made over the 5-year period, and the transfer must be reported as a series of 5 equal annual transfers on IRS Form 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return. If the donor dies within the 5-year period, a portion of the transferred amount will be included in the donor's estate for estate tax purposes. 2. The Roth contribution limit is the lesser of the annual contribution limit or the 529 beneficiary's income for the year. The contribution limit starts phasing out when an individuals adjusted gross income is greater than $138,000 and is fully phased out after $153,000. For couples, the contribution is reduced starting at $218,000 and phased out altogether at $228,000. However, under SECURE 2.0 this phase out is adjusted for the 529 rollover but may not permit a full contribution in all cases. You should consult a tax advisor regarding your specific situation.

Fidelity does not provide legal or tax advice. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Tax laws and regulations are complex and subject to change, which can materially impact investment results. Fidelity cannot guarantee that the information herein is accurate, complete, or timely. Fidelity makes no warranties with regard to such information or results obtained by its use, and disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or any tax position taken in reliance on, such information. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation.

Views expressed are as of the date indicated and may change based on market and other conditions. Unless otherwise noted, the opinions provided are those of the speaker or author, as applicable, and not necessarily those of Fidelity Investments.

Recently enacted legislation made a number of changes to the rules regarding defined contribution, defined benefit, and/or individual retirement plans and 529 plans. Information herein may refer to or be based on certain rules in effect prior to this legislation and current rules may differ. As always, before making any decisions about your retirement planning or withdrawals, you should consult with your personal tax advisor.

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