Can you use a 529 to pay for on campus parking pass

[Anonymous]

What is not covered in a 529 Plan distribution?

Non-academic fees such as athletics, student activity, club, parking, and transportation are not covered. Even if your student commutes, they cannot deduct mileage, gas, repairs, or other transportation costs.

[Anonymous]

DH wants to buy or long term lease a place while kid(s) go to college. Say the monthly payment is $5,000 per month. Can we just look at the max the school charges for a room (and meal plan) and withdraw those max amount from the kid's 529?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH wants to buy or long term lease a place while kid(s) go to college. Say the monthly payment is $5,000 per month. Can we just look at the max the school charges for a room (and meal plan) and withdraw those max amount from the kid's 529?

You can withdraw up to the college's official cost of attendance (COA) for room and board for that year.

https://www.savingforcollege.com/article/using-your-529-plan-to-pay-for-room-and-board

[Anonymous]

Transportation expenses do not qualify, unless they are school required fee (like maybe some kind of shuttle surcharge applied to all students).

So, that sounds like a no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH wants to buy or long term lease a place while kid(s) go to college. Say the monthly payment is $5,000 per month. Can we just look at the max the school charges for a room (and meal plan) and withdraw those max amount from the kid's 529?

You can withdraw up to the college's official cost of attendance (COA) for room and board for that year.

https://www.savingforcollege.com/article/using-your-529-plan-to-pay-for-room-and-board

I don't understand that. What exactly is "cost of attendance"?
I've only seen estimates on college websites, with lots of asterisks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH wants to buy or long term lease a place while kid(s) go to college. Say the monthly payment is $5,000 per month. Can we just look at the max the school charges for a room (and meal plan) and withdraw those max amount from the kid's 529?

You can withdraw up to the college's official cost of attendance (COA) for room and board for that year.

https://www.savingforcollege.com/article/using-your-529-plan-to-pay-for-room-and-board

I don't understand that. What exactly is "cost of attendance"?
I've only seen estimates on college websites, with lots of asterisks.

They all put a price on annual attendance. It is on their website, and your statement of financial awards /family contribution/loans usually adds up to that bottom line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH wants to buy or long term lease a place while kid(s) go to college. Say the monthly payment is $5,000 per month. Can we just look at the max the school charges for a room (and meal plan) and withdraw those max amount from the kid's 529?

You can withdraw up to the college's official cost of attendance (COA) for room and board for that year.

https://www.savingforcollege.com/article/using-your-529-plan-to-pay-for-room-and-board

How well documented, if at all, must food be for kids living off campus? So if the college lists unlimited meal plan at $3000, can I just withdraw $3000 from 529 or does than mean I can reimburse up to $3000 with evidence of receipts, etc?

[Anonymous]

Non-transportation related, but can 529 expenses be used to pay for tutor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not an audit but a letter asking for backup receipts!

How’s that different from an audit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Non-transportation related, but can 529 expenses be used to pay for tutor?

If it’s not required for the education, it’s not covered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Odds of getting audited over this 1 in what? A million? And if you wrote a check to a college for an education related expense, you really think an IRS agent is going to challenge it?

Not audited but got IRS letters 2-3 times over 529 withdrawals. My accountant had to submit supplemental info.

-dp

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Non-transportation related, but can 529 expenses be used to pay for tutor?

If it’s not required for the education, it’s not covered.

Incorrect.

Tutoring is out, but other expenses are in.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5834.pdf

Qualified Higher Education Expenses: In general, this term includes tuition,
fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for the enrollment or attendance
of a designated beneficiary at an eligible educational institution.

Additionally,
this term includes certain expenses for a computer, software, or internet access
and related services to be used by the designated beneficiary during the years
of enrollment. The term also includes certain room and board expenses in the
case of a designated beneficiary attending at least half-time.

And in the case of
a special needs beneficiary, this term includes certain expenses for special
needs services