Funds may be used for any of these approved expenses:
Tuition, fees, meals, room & board, textbooks, supplies and more
Tuition at private, public and religious schools
Amounts paid on qualified student loans
Fees, supplies and required equipment
Withdrawals can be requested from your online account. Follow the steps below to get started.
The guide provides detailed information on requesting a withdrawal, qualified expenses, tax reporting and other helpful information.
Select “My Profile” to review and update your contact information.
Select "Manage My Accounts," then "Withdraw Funds." Withdrawals are typically processed within 2-3 business days.
Yes. Most vocational, technical, and graduate schools are eligible educational institutions. Check the eligibility of a specific school online at fafsa.ed.gov using the “School Code Search” or contact the school directly. See the Prepaid529 page for more information on using your Prepaid529 benefits.
It’s not required to report withdrawals used for qualified higher education expenses on your federal tax return. Virginia529 will issue an IRS Form 1099-Q (Qualified Tuition Program Payments) each year in which a withdrawal is made:
The same qualified higher education expense may not qualify for more than one tax benefit (e.g. tax-free withdrawals AND a federal tax credit).
For more information, view the blog article 529 Plans and Your Tax Return, the 1099-Q Fact Sheet, or the Invest529 Withdrawal Guide.
If you are a Virginia taxpayer, non-qualified withdrawals may require the recapture of prior Virginia income tax deductions. If you live outside of Virginia, please check with your state’s tax department to determine your state’s treatment of income from another state’s qualified tuition program.
Find information about tax benefits for education including examples, in IRS Publication 970, also available by calling the IRS toll-free at 1-800-829-1040. Your tax consequences depend on your individual circumstances. You should consult a tax advisor regarding specific tax consequences of taking withdrawals from your Virginia529 account(s).
No, you will only receive a Form 1099-Q if you withdrew funds from or closed your Virginia529 account. Internal Rollovers, Investment Directions and Transfers within Virginia529 will not generate a 1099-Q.
Account owners can access their Form 1099-Q in their online account at Virginia529.com.
If a withdrawal was made directly to a beneficiary or the beneficiary’s eligible educational institution, then the beneficiary will need to set up their online login at Virginia529.com to access their Form 1099-Q.
If funds were withdrawn from your Virginia529 account in 2020, tax documents providing the 2020 withdrawal information (IRS Form 1099-Q) will be mailed on or before January 31, 2021.
To prevent delays in receiving your Form 1099-Q, you should log in to your Virginia529 account online at Virginia529.com and verify that your address and the beneficiary’s address are up to date.
Any non-retirement investment or savings account may affect eligibility. For accounts owned by parents and dependent students, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) assesses 529 assets at a maximum of 5.64 percent of the value when calculating the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for financial aid eligibility. Accounts owned by other parties will impact eligibility differently. For more information, consult fafsa.ed.gov or an educational financial aid adviser.
No. All of our accounts, including Prepaid529, can be used at any eligible educational institution around the country or the world, public or private! Benefits of Prepaid529 contracts differ depending on how and where they are used. Please see the applicable Program Descriptions for more information.
Read this guide to find more helpful information about using your account.
Use these tools to determine future higher education costs and plan your saving strategy.
Read about factors to consider when preparing your tax return.