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How unused 529 assets can help with retirement planning

Key takeaways

  • Starting this year, under certain circumstances, 529 account holders can transfer up to a lifetime limit of $35,000 to a Roth IRA for the beneficiary.
  • The Roth IRA rule can help 529 beneficiaries avoid taxes and penalties for nonqualified withdrawals.
  • The rule also helps give 529 account owners more flexibility in how they use funds.

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, legislative changes may put some of these concerns to rest, as distributions from 529 accounts can now be used to give the same beneficiaries a retirement boost as well. Under certain conditions, you can roll over tax- and penalty-free up to a lifetime limit of $35,000 in a 529 to a Roth IRA opened by the 529 beneficiary.1 The 529 plan must have been maintained for the beneficiary for at least 15 years, subject to annual Roth IRA contribution limits. (Note: The annual contribution limit would be the beneficiary's, not the parents’.)

The provision is part of the SECURE 2.0 Act, passed by Congress at the end of 2022, which overhauled parts of the US 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; for example, allowing for employer matching into retirement accounts for student loan payments, among other things.

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

About 529s

529s have numerous tax advantages.

Among them, individual contributions up to $19,000 per year, and $38,000 per married couple, are not subject to the federal gift tax. Additionally, in 2025 you can front-load a 529 plan (giving 5 years' worth of annual gifts of up to $19,000 at once for a total of $95,000 per person, per beneficiary) without having to pay a gift tax.2

The money in the account can also grow tax-deferred, and you may contribute up to the 529 plan's maximum aggregate 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 transfer 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 have been maintained for the designated beneficiary for at least 15 years. (Separately, the Roth IRA also must be established in the name of the designated beneficiary of the 529 account.)
  • The amount transferred from a 529 account to a Roth IRA in the applicable year, together with all other IRA contributions for the tax year for the same beneficiary, must not exceed the Roth IRA annual contribution limit applicable to the beneficiary.
  • Additionally, the transfer amount must come from contributions made to the 529 account at least 5 years prior to the transfer date and the aggregate amounts transferred from 529 accounts to all Roth IRAs must not exceed $35,000 per beneficiary.

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.

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: $7,000 for 2025

Year Rollover to Roth IRA Remaining 529 assets
2025 $7,000 $23,000
2026 $7,000 $16,000
2027 $7,000 $9,000
2028 $7,000 $2,000
2029 $2,000 $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.

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.

Income considerations for 529 rollovers

Regular Roth contributions have modified adjusted gross income limitations. But such limits do not seem to restrict the 529-to-Roth IRA—per current readings of SECURE 2.0. However, the IRS has not issued guidance on this legislation but is anticipated to do so in the future, which may result in interpretative changes.

Still, 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.3

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, the beneficiary of your 529 account now has 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. Beginning January 2024, the Secure 2.0 Act of 2022 (the "Act") provides that you may transfer assets from your 529 account to a Roth IRA established for the Designated Beneficiary of a 529 account under the following conditions: (i) the 529 account must be maintained for the Designated Beneficiary for at least 15 years, (ii) the transfer amount must come from contributions made to the 529 account at least five years prior to the 529-to-Roth IRA transfer date, (iii) the Roth IRA must be established in the name of the Designated Beneficiary of the 529 account, (iv) the amount transferred to a Roth IRA is limited to the annual Roth IRA contribution limit, and (v) the aggregate amount transferred from a 529 account to a Roth IRA may not exceed $35,000 per individual. It is your responsibility to maintain adequate records and documentation on your accounts to ensure you comply with the 529-to-Roth IRA transfer requirements set forth in the Internal Revenue Code. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) has not issued guidance on the 529-to-Roth IRA transfer provision in the Act but is anticipated to do so in the future. Based on forthcoming guidance, it may be necessary to change or modify some 529-to-Roth IRA transfer requirements. Please consult a financial or tax professional regarding your specific circumstances before making any investment decision. 2. In order for an accelerated transfer to a 529 plan (for a given beneficiary) of $95,000 (or $190,000 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. 3. The Roth contribution limit is the lesser of the annual contribution limit or the 529 beneficiary's income for the year. 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.

Units of the portfolios are municipal securities and may be subject to market volatility and fluctuation.

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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