Author Topic: 529 penalty  (Read 2000 times)

tpozywio

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 43
  • Age: 38
  • Location: Indiana
529 penalty
« on: December 09, 2013, 07:58:41 AM »
On non qualified withdrawals there's a 10% penalty plus you have to pay taxes on gains.   If you live in a state where you get a tax break for contributing, could you still come out ahead?   Tax break in, penalty out, but if you're retired by then and in a lower bracket.... Am i missing something?

sherr

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1541
  • Age: 38
  • Location: North Carolina, USA
Re: 529 penalty
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2013, 08:34:35 AM »
States that have a tax break for contributions to a 529 plan will generally require you to pay taxes on non-qualified principle withdrawals. There may be some that don't but I would expect that loophole to be a mistake that they'll eventually catch and close, so I wouldn't rely on it too much.

It is possible that the 10% penalty + retirement tax bracket is less than your current tax bracket, so it is possible to come out ahead. That applies to Traditional IRAs and 401ks as well, although there are generally ways to avoid the penalty in those accounts. However, let's keep in mind that contributions to a 529 plan are not federal tax deductible. State taxes are generally a lot less than federal taxes, so even if you can save a few bucks on state taxes it won't be anywhere near as much as you can save with an account that works for both state and federal taxes.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!