When you use your 529 savings to pay for college expenses (or tuition at an elementary or secondary public, private or religious school), you won't pay federal — or often state — taxes on withdrawals, including any earnings. State tax treatment may vary for distributions for primary or secondary education tuition expenses.Footnote 2
Certain states may offer state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds and protection from creditors for investing in their Section 529 plans.
Before investing, you should consider whether your home state or your beneficiary's home state offers state tax or other state benefits such as financial aid, scholarship funds and protection from creditors that are available only for investments in such state's 529 plan. Learn more about 529 plans.