VHEIP will be part of the Benefit Fair for State of Vermont employees in the Asa Bloomer Building, Room 266, Merchant's Row, Rutland on Thursday, November 7, from 9:00 to 1:00. VSAC will provide the details of Vermont’s 529 college savings plan, so families can find out about the benefits, including the Vermont state income […]
Waterbury -- State Employee Benefit Fair
280 State Drive Center Building, Waterbury
VHEIP will be part of the Benefit Fair for State of Vermont employees in Waterbury on Friday, November 8 from 9:00 to 3:00. VSAC will provide the details of Vermont’s 529 college savings plan, so families can find out about the benefits, including the Vermont state income tax credit, that VHEIP offers to Vermonters as […]
City of Barre
149 Websterville Road, Websterville, United States
VHEIP and VSAC will be part of the City of Barre Employee Benefits Fair on Wednesday, December 4 from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. VSAC will provide the details of Vermont’s 529 college savings plan, VSAC career training & college planning resources, and more. Families can find out about the benefits, including the Vermont state income […]
Smugglers' Notch Resort
4323 Vermont Route 108 South, Jeffersonville, United States
VHEIP and VSAC will be part of the Smugglers' Notch Employee Wellness Fair on Thursday, December 5 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. This year's theme is "Winter Wonderland." VSAC will provide the details of Vermont’s 529 college savings plan, VSAC career training & college planning resources, and more. Families can find out about the […]
Saint Johnsbury Academy
1000 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, VT, United States
VSAC and VHEIP representatives will be at the Saint Johnsbury Academy on Dec. 9 for a teacher/staff presentation. Attendees can find out about how VSAC can help your families plan, pay and save for college and career training. We'll have information on VSAC programs for students and families, as well as info on Vermont's 529 […]
UVM Athletics--Patrick Gymnasium and Gutterson Fieldhouse
97 Spear St, Burlington
VSAC, sponsor of Vermont's 529 college savings plan, is excited to partner with UVM Athletics to help you plan ahead for college. We're teaming up with RALLY's Round Up members all year as we get the word out to Vermont families about saving for college. Don't miss RALLY's Birthday Party -- it's the event of the year for RALLY's […]
Saint Johnsbury Academy
1000 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, VT, United States
VSAC will hold a Vermont 529 presentation for Saint Johnsbury Academy staff on January 13. All faculty are encouraged to attend to find out about the benefits, including the Vermont state income tax credit, that VHEIP offers to Vermont families as they save for their children's education and training past high school. To schedule a […]
UVM Athletics--Patrick Gymnasium and Gutterson Fieldhouse
97 Spear St, Burlington
VSAC, sponsor of Vermont's 529 college savings plan, is excited to partner with UVM Athletics to help you plan ahead for college. We're teaming up with the Catamount Classroom as we get the word out to Vermont families about saving for college. Don't miss seeing UVM Women shoot the hoops at the Catamount Classroom game on January 29th […]
Castleton University
62 Alumni Dr, Castleton, VT, VT, United States
Are you the parent of a high school student? An adult learner returning to education? A student of any age wondering about your next steps ... and how to pay for it? VSAC can help you plan for college & job training -- for free! Join us for College & Career Pathways 2020: an evening […]
Landmark College
19 River Rd South, Putney, United States
Are you the parent of a high school student? An adult learner returning to education? A student of any age wondering about your next steps ... and how to pay for it? VSAC can help you plan for college & job training -- for free! Join us for College & Career Pathways 2020: an evening […]
Checks should be made payable to the Vermont Higher Education Investment Plan.
Contributions by check must be drawn on a banking institution located in the United States in U.S. dollars.
You may contribute to VHEIP using:
personal checks (excluding starter checks and cashier’s checks), bank drafts, or teller’s checks.
checks issued by a financial institution or brokerage firm made payable to the account owner or the beneficiary and endorsed over to VHEIP by the account owner.
a third-party personal check up to $10,000 that is endorsed over to VHEIP.
Contributions by check should be accompanied by a completed Additional Contribution by Mail Form or should include reference the VHEIP account number(s) to which the contribution should be applied.
As Vermont’s official 529 college savings plan, VHEIP is the only 529 plan that qualifies for a Vermont state income tax credit.
A state income tax credit of 10% of the first $2,500 contributed to VHEIP per beneficiaryper tax year is available to any Vermont taxpayer (or, in the case of a married couple filing jointly, each spouse) – that’s a credit of up to $250 on annual contributions per beneficiary per account owner ($500 per beneficiary for married couples filing jointly).
Rollovers from another state’s 529 plan into VHEIP are also eligible for the 10% tax credit on the contributions portion of the rollover (not on the earnings). The funds must remain in VHEIP for the remainder of the taxable year in which the funds were rolled in.
Who is considered a family member of a 529 beneficiary?
A qualifying family member includes any siblings or step-siblings, natural or legally adopted children, stepchildren, parents or ancestors of parents, step-parents, first cousins, nieces or nephews, and aunts or uncles. In addition, the spouse of the beneficiary or the spouse of any of those listed above also qualifies as a family member of the beneficiary.
Qualified higher education expenses include tuition, fees, and the cost of books, supplies, and equipment required for the enrollment and attendance of the beneficiary at an eligible educational institution, and certain room and board expenses. Qualified higher education expenses also include certain additional enrollment and attendant costs of a beneficiary who is a special needs beneficiary in connection with the beneficiary’s enrollment or attendance at an eligible institution. For this purpose, an eligible educational institution generally includes accredited postsecondary educational institutions offering credit toward a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree, a graduate-level degree or professional degree, or another recognized postsecondary credential.
A non-qualified withdrawal is any withdrawal that does not meet the requirements of being: (1) a qualified withdrawal; (2) a taxable withdrawal; or (3) a rollover. The earnings portion of a non-qualified withdrawal may be subject to federal income taxation, and the additional tax. Recapture provisions apply. See the Disclosure Booklet for details.
Eligible education institutions are accredited, post-secondary educational institutions offering credit towards a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree, a graduate level or professional degree, or another recognized post-secondary credential. Use the Federal School Code Search on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website or contact your school to determine if it qualifies as an eligible educational institution. 529 Plan assets can also be used at some accredited foreign schools. If you have a question, contact your school to determine if it qualifies.
The federal tax act of 2017, signed into law in December 2017, includes provisions related to 529 plan accounts, beginning with the 2018 tax year:
529 withdrawals may be used to pay for qualified K-12 expenses for elementary or secondary public, private or religious schools effective January 1, 2018. These K-12 withdrawals are limited to $10,000 per student per year and apply to tuition expenses only. Withdrawals up to $10,000 per year per beneficiary for K-12 tuition expenses are not subject to federal tax, but the earnings on those withdrawals over $10,000 would be subject to federal tax.
The Vermont 529 plan statute is written differently, however, and may impose negative Vermont income tax consequences on withdrawals for K-12 tuition. Therefore, for account owners who took the Vermont income tax credit on contributions to their 529 plan, amounts withdrawn for K-12 tuition expenses may be subject to a 10% recapture penalty on those withdrawals, and Vermont may impose tax on the gain realized with respect to the withdrawals.
VSAC, as administrator of the Vermont 529 plan, will provide information as details about the Vermont income tax effects are clarified. We encourage you to consult a qualified tax advisor or the Vermont Department of Taxes at tax.vermont.gov concerning federal and state tax implications for tax years 2018 and beyond, and to save documentation for how all VT 529 fund withdrawals are used.
