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START Saving Program

3.5 / 5

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Good LA resident benefits

LA resident benefits

The START Saving Program requires Louisiana residency to participate. It is subsidized by the state, resulting in no costs to the participant above the underlying fund costs. Vanguard funds and the State Treasurer's fixed income fund are utilized in the age-based and static portfolio options. Louisiana has established a separate program for K-12 savings, the Louisiana Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve Program, or START K12.

START Saving Program

KEY METRICS

OVERVIEW

Program type

Savings

Inception

1997

State agency

Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority (LATTA)

Tax deduction

For single filers: $2,400/yr per beneficiary

For joint filers: $4,800/yr per beneficiary

Program manager

Louisiana State Treasurer

Program distributor

Not applicable

Manager contract term

MORE INFORMATION

Eligibility

State residency requirements:

The account owner or beneficiary must be a Louisiana resident at the time of program enrollment.

Who can be a participant/owner in the program?

U.S. citizens and resident aliens at least 18 years old, UGMA/UTMA custodians, and legal entities.

Significant time or age restrictions imposed by the program:

Refunds requested from the Fixed Earnings fund within 12 months of opening the account will not return any interest.

Contributions

Maximum contributions:

Accepts contributions until all account balances in Louisiana's 529 plan for the same beneficiary reach $500,000.

Minimum contributions:

$10

Does the program offer an e-gifting platform for receiving gift contributions?

This plan does not offer an online gifting portal allowing for easy sharing but may offer gift certificates or allow mail-in gift contributions.

SPONSORED

Other great plans to consider

You are not limited to your own state's 529 plan, so compare the plan and tax benefits offered by your state to other options. Here are some plans that are available to residents of any state and have earned awards in our 529 Plan Ratings:

Investment Options

Investors in START Saving Program can select from the following investment options. Click on a portfolio name for more information.

Three Age-Based Options contain 4 portfolios of underlying mutual funds. Contributions are placed into the portfolio corresponding to the beneficiary's age, and later reassigned to more conservative portfolios as the beneficiary approaches college age.
PortfolioE.R. % Equity1yr performance
Moderate: Ages 0 through 50.13%60%5.93%
Moderate: Ages 6 through 100.12%40%5.53%
Moderate: Ages 11 through 150.11%20%5.04%
Moderate: Ages 16+N/A0%N/A
Growth: Ages 0 through 50.14%80%6.37%
Growth: Ages 11 through 150.12%40%5.53%
Growth: Ages 16+N/A0%N/A
Growth: Ages 6 through 100.13%60%5.93%
Aggressive: Ages 0 through 80.14%80%6.37%
Aggressive: Ages 13 through 150.12%40%5.53%
Aggressive: Ages 16+N/A0%N/A
Aggressive: Ages 9 through 120.13%60%5.93%

Age-based/Enrollment Year investment options:

Three Age-Based Options contain 4 portfolios of underlying mutual funds. Contributions are placed into the portfolio corresponding to the beneficiary's age, and later reassigned to more conservative portfolios as the beneficiary approaches college age.

Static investment options:

Select between the Louisiana Principal Protection Option (100% invested in the state-managed Fixed Earnings Fund), and 6 Vanguard individual fund options.

Underlying investments:

Vanguard LifeStrategy funds (in the Age-Based Option), the Louisiana State Treasurer's fund, and Vanguard Index Funds.

Underlying fund allocations:

Portfolio Fees & Performance Lookup

Fees & Expenses

Enrollment or application fee:

None.

Account maintenance fee:

None.

Program management fees:

None

Expenses of the underlying investments:

None for the Principal Protection fund. Ranges from 0.11% - 0.14% for the Vanguard LifeStrategy funds (Age-Based options; none for Ages 16+), and from 0.02% to 0.08% for the Vanguard individual fund options.

Total asset-based expense ratio:

0.02% - 0.14%. None for the Principal Protection option.

Taxes and other Benefits

Tax deduction for single filers:

$2,400/yr per beneficiary

Tax deduction for joint filers:

$4,800/yr per beneficiary

Program match on contributions:

The state provides an earnings enhancement equal to 2% to 14% (depending on income) of a Louisiana participant's contributions when the account is used for qualifying expenses.

State tax deduction or credit for contributions:

Contributions to the Louisiana 529 plan of up to $2,400 per beneficiary per year by an individual taxpayer, and up to $4,800 per beneficiary per year by a married couple filing jointly, are deductible in computing Louisiana taxable income. Any unused cap amount with an active account may be carried forward to increase the cap in subsequent tax years. Double deductions of up to $4,800 per year may be claimed for an account opened for an eligible needy, non-related beneficiary. Contribution deadline is December 31.

Contributions to START K12 accounts ARE NOT deductible in computing Louisiana taxable income.

Calculate your Louisiana 529 tax benefit

Find out how much you can save on state taxes this year by contributing to a Louisiana 529 plan.

Your tax savings per year
$0

Household income

$100,000

Monthly Contribution

$100

State tax recapture provisions:

The principal portion of nonqualified withdrawals from this plan are included in Louisiana taxable income to the extent of prior Louisiana tax deductions. Rollovers are not subject to recapture.

State definition of qualified expenses

The state conforms with the federal definition of qualified education expenses, which includes expenses for higher education, apprenticeship programs, interest and/or principal on qualified education loans up to a $10,000 lifetime cap, and up to $10,000 per year in tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school.

State tax treatment of qualified distributions:

Qualified distributions from Louisiana and non-Louisiana 529 plans are exempt.

State tax treatment of rollovers:

Louisiana follows federal tax-free treatment.

Does the sponsoring state exclude the value of an account for state financial aid purposes?

No.

Does participation in the program provide beneficiaries with any advantages in qualifying for resident tuition status at state institutions?

No

Is there a rewards program or outside scholarship program that works with this program?

Yes, the Upromise Rewards program can be linked to any 529 college savings plan. Upromise Rewards is free to join and offers members cash back for college.

Statutory protection of an account from creditors:

Distributions & Terminations

To whom are distributions made payable:

Qualified withdrawals are made payable to the educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner; nonqualified withdrawals (refunds) are made payable to the account owner.

Account Changes

Policy regarding participant/owner changes:

Account ownership may not be transferred prior to the owner's death or incapacity.

Documents, Access & Reporting

Does participant have online password-protected access to account?

Yes

Can the complete enrollment process including funding be done online?

Yes

Documents and other services accessible or downloadable on the program's public Web site:

Contact

Website:

http://www.startsaving.la.gov

Telephone:

1-800-259-5626

Twitter

https://twitter.com/LOSFA

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