New Legislation Would Allow Families to Use 529 Funds to Purchase Computers for First Time, Reduce Unnecessary Paperwork Remove Withdrawal Penalty When Student Becomes Sick
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), joined by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Richard Burr (R-NC), Mark Warner (D -VA), Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), today introduced legislation to enhance the already successful Section 529 college savings plans.
“529s are a proven method to help middle class families save for their children’s college education,” Senator Casey said. “This bipartisan effort will make commonsense changes to 529s to ensure that they continue to be a vehicle to advance the dreams of families across Pennsylvania and the nation.”
The new bill has three main provisions: the first recognizes the reality that in today’s world, a computer is just as much a necessary educational expense as a required class textbook. As such, this bill allows 529 funds to purchase a computer on the same tax-favorable basis as other required materials.
The second provision eliminates an outdated and unnecessary aggregation rule that increases paperwork and costs.
The third provision provides tax and penalty relief in instances where a student may have to withdraw from school for illness or other reasons. Under current law, any refunds from the college are subject to immediate taxation and a 10 percent tax penalty. This provision eliminates this tax and penalty if the refund is redeposited in a 529 account. This permits a family to set the refund aside to pay for the student’s education should he or she be able to return to college or to use it for another family member.
###
