529 Plan Tax Calculator

529 plans offer tax-free growth on education savings. Most states also offer a state income tax deduction or credit for contributions — but there is no federal deduction. This calculator shows your state tax benefit and projects account growth over time.

Your 529 Contribution

$
$
%
Nominal annual

Annual Tax Benefit

State Tax Savings
$270
Per year in New York
Federal Tax Savings
$0
No federal 529 deduction
529 Deduction/Credit
$270
State benefit
Total 18-Year Tax Savings
$4,860
Cumulative state deduction benefit

Projected Account Value After 18 Years

Total Contributions
$90,000
$5,000/year
Tax-Free Growth
$91,895
At 7% annual return
Account Value
$181,895
Total projected balance
Tax on Growth Avoided
~$13,784
Approx. at 15% LTCG rate
YearContributionsGrowthAccount ValueCumulative Tax Saved
1$5,000$350$5,350$270
2$10,000$1,075$11,075$540
3$15,000$2,200$17,200$810
4$20,000$3,754$23,754$1,080
5$25,000$5,766$30,766$1,350
10$50,000$23,918$73,918$2,700
15$75,000$59,440$134,440$4,050
18$90,000$91,895$181,895$4,860

Assumes 7% nominal annual return with contributions at the start of each year. Actual returns will vary.

529 Deduction Limits by State (2026)

StateSingleMFJType
ColoradoUnlimitedUnlimitedDeduction
South CarolinaUnlimitedUnlimitedDeduction
Pennsylvania$15,000$30,000Deduction
New York$5,000$10,000Deduction
Illinois$10,000$20,000Deduction
Virginia$4,000$8,000Deduction
Missouri$8,000$16,000Deduction
Iowa$3,387$6,774Deduction
Ohio$4,000$4,000Deduction
Wisconsin$3,000$6,000Deduction
Indiana$7,500$7,50020% Credit
Vermont$2,500$5,00010% Credit
Oregon$2,375$4,750Deduction
Nebraska$10,000$10,000Deduction
Georgia$6,000$12,000Deduction

States not listed either have no income tax or do not offer a 529 deduction. Some states require contributions to the in-state plan to qualify for the deduction.

529 Plan Tax Benefits Explained

No federal deduction. Unlike 401(k) or IRA contributions, 529 contributions are made with after-tax dollars at the federal level. The federal benefit is entirely in the tax-free growth and withdrawals for qualified education expenses.

State deductions vary widely. Over 30 states offer a deduction or credit for 529 contributions. Limits range from $2,000 per year (Mississippi, Montana) to unlimited (Colorado, South Carolina). Some states only give the benefit for contributions to the in-state plan.

Qualified expenses include tuition, fees, books, room and board (up to the cost of attendance), computers, and internet access. Since 2018, up to $10,000 per year can be used for K-12 tuition. SECURE 2.0 added up to $10,000 for student loan repayment.

SECURE 2.0 Roth rollover. Starting in 2024, unused 529 funds can be rolled into a Roth IRA for the beneficiary, subject to annual Roth IRA contribution limits and a $35,000 lifetime cap. The 529 must have been open for at least 15 years.

Superfunding. You can contribute up to 5 years of the annual gift exclusion ($19,000 in 2025) in a single year — $95,000 per person ($190,000 for a married couple) — without triggering gift tax. This accelerates tax-free compounding.