Truth: You can use the assets in your DC College Savings Plan account at any eligible 2- and 4-year college, graduate school (including law and medical), and vocational/technical school.1
Truth: You can use your DC College Savings Plan account assets for many qualified higher education expenses, including tuition, fees, computers, and certain room and board costs.2
Truth: Open a DC College Savings Plan account with as little as $25 a month with recurring contributions3 or a one-time opening contribution of $25. You can also set up payroll direct deposit through a participating employer with a $15 minimum per pay period.3
Truth: With a DC College Savings Plan account, you can be as hands-on or hands-off as you want to be. You can choose from a Year of College Enrollment Portfolio that automatically adjusts its investments as your child nears college, an Individual Portfolio that helps you design your own investments or a Principal Protected Portfolio that invests to provide a guaranty of principal.
Truth: The 529 plan account owner controls the account. So you can change your beneficiary to another eligible “member of the family4” with no tax penalty.
Truth: Even if your student is already in high school, you can benefit from a 529 plan. Earnings grow federal and District tax-deferred, and when you withdraw the money for a qualified higher education expense, it is free of federal tax.2 Any assets not used may even be rolled over to another eligible family member's account.
Truth: It is fast and easy to enroll online.
Truth: With a DC College Savings Plan account, it is affordable. Total annual asset-based DC College Savings Plan fees range from 0.15% - 0.80%. For example, if you invest $1,000, the annual fee could be as low as $1.50.
1An eligible institution is one that can participate in federal financial aid programs.
2Earnings on non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes and recapture of DC tax deductions. Tax and other benefits are contingent on meeting other requirements and certain withdrawals are subject to federal, state, and local taxes.
3A plan of periodic investment does not assure a profit or protect against a loss in declining markets.
4Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code defines a family member as: a son, daughter, stepson or stepdaughter, or a descendant of any such person; a brother, sister, stepbrother, or stepsister; the father or mother, 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; a son-in-law, daughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law; the spouse of the beneficiary or the spouse of any individual described above; or a first cousin of the beneficiary. Gift or generation-skipping transfer taxes may apply. Please consult with your tax advisor for further information.
