New Bill Would Allow Rollovers From 529 Plans to Roth IRAs

By Melanie Waddell

News June 17, 2022 at 01:41 PM

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Sens. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Bob Casey, D-Penn., have introduced the College Savings Recovery Act, legislation to allow for special rollovers to Roth IRAs from long-term qualified tuition programs without a penalty.

The College Savings Recovery Act, introduced Tuesday, was originally included as part of Burr's Boost Savings for College Act in 2017 and "would give families greater control over their own savings," he said.

The bill, S. 4440, allows rollovers from a 529 plan into a Roth IRA without being penalized.

Families can contribute to 529 plans to invest for future education expenses. Withdrawals are tax-free when used to cover qualified education expenses like tuition, fees, books, and room and board. More than 30 states offer their own deductions and credits for using the plans, according to Savingforcollege.com.

However, under current law, "families are penalized for withdrawing unused, or leftover funds, from their '529 accounts' should their child decide against pursuing a higher degree, or complete their education without using all funds in the account," Burr and Casey said in a statement.

Withdrawals not used for qualified education expenses are subject to income tax and a 10% penalty on the earnings portion.

"An early start on saving for retirement can mean the difference between peace of mind and insecurity for retired Americans," Casey added. "This bipartisan bill will allow parents to put unused savings for their children's education into their retirement account, rather than face a penalty."

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