|
Greenberg Traurig Alert
529 Plans: Education Savings Account
February 2002
By Michelle McLeod, Esq. and
Jerome Hesch, Esq., Greenberg Traurig,
Miami Office
View or download the PDF version of this Alert
here.
Parents and grandparents with college-bound children or grandchildren
are concerned with funding future college costs and imminent college expenses.
One way to address both concerns, and at the same time receive a tax benefit
is to take advantage of Qualified Tuition Programs under Section 529 of
the Internal Revenue Code, commonly called "529 plans." Under current Federal
tax law, 529 plans are generally exempt from Federal income tax. There are
two types of 529 plans. The first type, the "prepaid educational services
account," allows for the purchase of tuition credits for colleges in a particular
state. The second type, the "education savings account," allows for contributions
to an investment account set up to meet future higher education expenses.
This Alert discusses the "education savings account" 529 plan or "ESA."
The advantage of ESAs is that they serve as a "tax shelter" in which to
accumulate funds to pay future educational expenses on a tax-free basis.
All investment earnings on amounts contributed to the plan are exempt from
Federal income tax. Also, no Federal income tax is payable when money is
withdrawn or distributed from an ESA if used to pay for "qualified higher
education expenses"1.
The advantage of tax-sheltered compounding is most beneficial to persons
in higher tax brackets with longer investment horizons. ESAs also offer
an estate planning opportunity to shift wealth to junior family members
without the payment of any gift or estate taxes.
| "The advantage of ESAs is that
they serve as a 'tax shelter' in which to accumulate funds to pay
future educational expenses on a tax-free basis." |
|
Education savings account
The ESA can only be offered by a state (or a state agency or instrumentality).
Under this type of plan, contributions are made to an investment account
established in the name of a chosen beneficiary to meet his or her qualified
higher education expenses. The account owner maintains control of the account.
With few exceptions, the named beneficiary has no rights to the funds. The
account owner decides when withdrawals are taken and for what purpose. The
plan’s rate of return depends on the performance of the investments (typically
mutual funds) made by the plan administrator. Some states offer a choice
of different mutual funds while other states’ investment choices are more
limited. Neither the contributor nor the beneficiary of the plan is permitted
to control the investments in the plan directly or indirectly. Notwithstanding,
a contributor may choose among different types of investment options available
under a particular plan at the time of the contribution to the plan. In
addition, the Internal Revenue Service expects that when final Treasury
Regulations are issued with respect to ESAs, they will permit a change in
the investment option under a particular plan once a year for each beneficiary
and at anytime upon a change in designated beneficiary. Almost all states
have retained outside investment companies to manage their plan investments,
for example, T. Rowe Price, Salomon Smith Barney, Fidelity Investments,
Merrill Lynch, Alliance Capital Management, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and
TIAA-CREF.
Who may participate
Federal law does not limit who may contribute funds to an ESA. The Internal
Revenue Code provides that any person (an individual, a trust, estate, partnership,
association, custodial account for a minor2
or corporation) may contribute to an ESA. Proposed Treasury Regulations
clarify that an account owner is the person (again, an individual, a trust,
estate, partnership, association, custodial account for a minor or corporation)
who, under the terms of the ESA or any contract setting forth the terms
under which contributions may be made to the ESA, is entitled to select
or change the designated beneficiary of an account, to designate any person
other than the designated beneficiary to whom funds may be paid from the
account, or to receive distributions from the account if no such other person
is designated. There is no requirement that the contributor and the account
owner be one and the same person. Generally, there are no income limitations
or age restrictions on the beneficiary. Any individual can be a designated
beneficiary, even a non-family member.
Contributions to a plan
The amounts that can be contributed to an ESA are substantial, and can
total up to $250,000 per beneficiary under many state plans. Contributions
to an ESA must be in cash, and can be paid by check, money order, credit
card or similar methods. In addition, the cash contribution requirement
may be satisfied through payroll deductions, automatic deductions from the
purchaser’s bank account, or direct payments using coupon books.
Distributions from a plan
Distributions from an ESA are not subject to Federal income tax if the
distribution is used to pay for "qualified higher education expenses".3
If cash distributions exceed the "qualified higher education expenses,"
the earnings portion of the excess distribution will be included in the
gross income of the distributee and not the account owner, or the contributor.4
No amount is included in gross income for a distribution that, within
60 days of the distribution, is transferred (rolled over) (i) to another
ESA for the benefit of the same designated beneficiary (provided that such
rollover is at least 12 months after the date of the previous rollover for
such beneficiary), or (ii) to another designated beneficiary under an ESA
if such beneficiary is a "member of the family"5
of the designated beneficiary with respect to which the distribution was
made. The new designated beneficiary’s ESA may be in the same or a different
state as the designated beneficiary with respect to which the distribution
was made.
A change in the designated beneficiary under an ESA is not treated as
a distribution, and thus is not includible in gross income of the acount
owner, if the new beneficiary is a member of the family of the old beneficiary.
If the new beneficiary is not a member of the family of the old beneficiary,
the change in beneficiary is treated as a distribution to the account owner
(if the account owner has the authority to change the designated beneficiary),
and the earnings portion of the distribution is taxed to the account owner
as the distributee.
In addition to being taxable, a 10% penalty applies to the portion of
a distribution includible in gross income.
Gift tax treatment of contributions and distributions
A contribution to an ESA is a completed gift to the designated beneficiary
and is potentially subject to the gift tax at the time made. The donor is
the contributor and the donee is the designated beneficiary. The gift may
be split between married couples. Contributions are eligible for the $11,000
($22,000 for married couples) annual gift tax exclusion for each designated
beneficiary. If the contribution to the ESA in any year exceeds the $11,000
annual gift tax exclusion amount, an election may be made, at the discretion
of the donor, to treat the gift as if it were made ratably over a five-year
period (not permissible for less than a five year period), thus minimizing
or eliminating any gift tax resulting from the contribution. Thus, a donor
can use $55,000 ($110,000 for married couples) of the next 5 years’ annual
exclusions for each designated beneficiary to shelter large contributions
to ESAs. Any contributions in a year in excess of the $55,000 annual exclusion
threshold are treated as taxable gifts, but the first $1,000,000 of an individual’s
taxable gifts are sheltered from the gift tax by the unified credit, and
from the generation-skipping transfer tax by the $1,000,000 GST exemption.
Qualified distributions from an ESA are not subject to the gift tax.
Any subsequent transfer which occurs by reason of a change in the designated
beneficiary or a rollover from the account of the original designated beneficiary
to the account of another beneficiary is treated, to the extent it is subject
to the gift tax, as a transfer from the original designated beneficiary
to the new beneficiary, but only if the new beneficiary is a generation
below the generation of the old beneficiary. In addition, the transfer will
not be subject to the generation-skipping transfer tax unless the new beneficiary
is two or more generations below the old beneficiary. For example, an ESA
set up for a child has excess funds after the child finishes her higher
education. Instead of distributing that excess, it is rolled over into an
ESA for a grandchild. There is no income or generation-skipping transfer
tax, but the child has made a gift which is potentially subject to the next
five years of that child’s annual exclusions, with any excess a taxable
gift, but subject to the child’s unified credit.
Estate tax treatment
The value of an interest in an ESA is not includible in the gross estate
of a donor or account owner, even if the account owner retains the right
to change the designated beneficiary of an account, to designate any person
other than the designated beneficiary to whom funds may be paid from the
account, or to receive distributions from the account if no other person
is designated as a beneficiary.6
But, any funds in an ESA are includible in the gross estate of the designated
beneficiary.
State law implications
ESAs are subject to both Federal and state law. Therefore, Federal as
well as state law implications (which should be referenced in the various
plan agreements and will vary from state to state) must be considered. Almost
all states and the District of Columbia have implemented ESAs or have such
plans pending. Generally, neither the contributor, account owner or designated
beneficiary need be a resident of the state to participate in its plan.
Thus, one can use any state’s ESA plan. A few states however, do currently
impose residency restrictions. In addition to residency requirements, other
differences among the various plans of the various states include: age restrictions;
income restrictions; schools covered under the plan; minimum and maximum
contribution amounts; any applicable enrollment, management and maintenance
fees and fund and broker expenses; state tax breaks, incentives and guarantees;
funds and investment options available; amount of the account that can be
applied to qualified expenses other than tuition; whether there is a minimum
amount of time before qualified withdrawals may be taken; and, applicable
penalties for refunds, non-qualified withdrawals and rollovers to another
plan.
Comparisons: ESA vs. regular investment account7
Example 1: Grandfather wants to invest $55,000 to pay for four years
of college for his one year old grandchild. Grandchild will attend college
beginning in 2019. With inflation, the estimated cost of an average private
college for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 is $57,971, $60,869, $63,913, and
$67,108 respectively. The estimated cost for all four years combined is
$249,861.
If Grandfather deposits his $55,000 in an interest bearing account with
an annual investment return of roughly 8%, he will earn $166,294 of income
by the end of 2022 on his investment and, assuming Grandfather is in the
highest tax bracket, will pay $53,686 in Federal income taxes on his earnings.8
If no withdrawals are made from the account, by the end of 2022, Grandfather
will have an ending balance of $167,607 of deposit and earnings combined,
after payment of Federal income taxes.
Alternatively, if Grandfather deposits his $55,000 in an ESA with an
annual investment return of roughly 8%, he will earn $195,078 of tax-free
income by the end of 2022. Assuming annual withdrawals of $57,971, $60,869,
$63,913, and $67,108 in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively, the account
will earn enough to cover the costs of four years of college and have a
remaining balance of $217 at the end of 2022. In effect, the original $55,000
investment will provide $249,861 to pay for four years of college. The extra
accumulation of $82,470 is attributable to the fact that there are no Federal
income taxes on the account or on amounts withdrawn from the account to
pay tuition costs.
What is interesting, is that there is still a tax savings if none of
the funds are used for qualified higher education expenses. For example,
if no withdrawals are made from the account, it will earn $225,654 of income
by the end of 2022. If the funds in the account are then distributed to
the grandchild and not used to pay for qualified higher education expenses,
then the earnings portion of the distribution is taxable to the grandchild
and there is also a 10% penalty. Even so, the grandchild will end up with
$179,110 of deposit and earnings combined, after payment of Federal income
taxes (assuming grandchild is in the highest tax bracket) and the 10% penalty.
Thus, if Grandfather invests his $55,000 in an ESA, he will have a tax
savings of $53,686 in Federal income tax. And, even if the money is not
used for grandchild’s college costs and is not rolled over tax-free, he
is still $11,503 better off if he chooses to invest in the ESA.
Example 2. Same as example 1, except that both Grandmother and Grandfather
invest $55,000 ($110,000 combined) in an ESA. The account will earn $420,731
of tax-free income by the end of 2022. Assuming the annual withdrawals for
grandchild’s college costs, the account will have a remaining balance of
$280,871 at the end of 2022. If this balance is rolled over for a great
grandchild, then the Federal income tax savings can continue as a tax-free
investment for the great grandchild. And, the grandchild is treating as
having made a taxable gift to great-grandchild (less annual exclusions),
and subject to that grandchild’s unified credit.
Footnotes
1 The Internal Revenue Code provides that the
term "qualified higher education expenses" means: tuition, fees, books,
supplies, and equipment (including expenses incurred for special needs services
in the case of special needs beneficiary) required for the enrollment or
attendance of a designated beneficiary at an eligible education institution,
and for certain eligible students enrolled at least half-time, reasonable
expenses incurred for room and board while attending such institution. Note
that, high school and grammar school do not qualify as higher education,
but a post-high school vocational school does.
2 Note however that 529 plans set up with funds
from existing UTMA or UGMA arrangements may be problematic since state law
and plan rules may prevent beneficiary changes, and possibly allow for direct
ownership by the beneficiary when the custodianship terminates at the age
of majority. In addition, since 529 plans can only accept cash (and cash
equivalents) capital gains would be reportable on the conversion of any
appreciated securities.
3 This treatment applies for distributions in
the years 2002 through 2010. Unless Congress decides to extend the Economic
Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, the earnings portion of
qualifying distributions made after 2010 will be taxable to the beneficiary.
4 To the extent distributions from a 529 plan
are included in the gross income of the distributee, they are reported in
the same manner as provided for annuity payments under the Internal Revenue
Code. As such, distributions are treated as representing a ratable portion
of return of investments (contributions) and accumulated earnings. The earnings
portion of a distribution from the "education savings account" type of 529
plan is determined by multiplying the amount of the distribution by the
"earnings ratio". The "earnings ratio" is determined by dividing the accumulated
earnings in the account by the total account balance (contributions and
accumulated earnings) as of the last day of the calendar year (including
all distributions and forfeitures from the account during the calendar year).
5 The Internal Revenue Code provides that the
term "member of the family" means an individual who is related to the designated
beneficiary as follows: a son or daughter, or a descendant of either; a
stepson or stepdaughter; a brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister;
the father or mother of the designated beneficiary, or an ancestor of either;
a stepfather or stepmother; a son or daughter of a brother or sister; a
brother or sister of the father or mother of the designated beneficiary;
a son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law,
or sister-in-law; the spouse of any of the aforementioned individuals or
the spouse of the designated beneficiary; or a first cousin of the designated
beneficiary. For purposes of determining who is a member of the family,
a legally adopted child of an individual shall be treated as the child of
such individual by blood and the terms brother and sister include a brother
or sister by the half blood.
6 Note however, if the donor elects the five
year averaging rule for purposes of the annual gift tax exclusion and dies
before the close of the 5 year amortization period, then the portion of
the contribution that is allocable to the period after the donor’s death
will be included in the donor’s estate for estate tax purposes.
7 Examples do not take into account any fees,
expenses or state taxes that may be associated with the investment.
8 By the time grandchild is ready for college
in 2019, only $142,787 will be in the account. Thus, Grandfather will not
have enough in the account to pay for four years of college.
© 2002 Greenberg Traurig
Additional Information:
For more information, please review our Tax Practice description, or
feel free to contact one of our attorneys.
This GT ALERT is issued for general purposes only and is not intended
to be construed or used as legal advice. Greenberg Traurig attorneys provide
practical, result-oriented strategies and solutions tailored to meet our
clients’ individual legal needs. The Firm’s responsive approach to client
service often cuts across legal subject matter, applying the right experience
and resources to provide cost-effective solutions.
|
