529 ABLE Accounts

The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act

The ABLE Act, which was signed into law in December 2014, allows Americans who are living with disabilities to save money for college and other expenses in a tax-deferred account as a supplement to private insurance and public benefits.

529 ABLE (529A) Accounts

Similar to a 529 college savings plan, 529 ABLE accounts are savings accounts administered by the states. Money can be withdrawn tax-free when the funds are used to pay for qualified disability expenses. The contribution for 2023 is $17,000 (the amount of the annual gift tax exclusion) and many states have total contribution limits that exceed $300,000. The gift tax exclusion was raised from 2022 by $1,000 (from $16,000).

However, if a person’s 529 ABLE account balance exceeds $100,000 they will no longer be eligible for SSI benefits. Also, if the beneficiary dies, states will be able to recoup some of the expenses through Medicaid.

The signing of the PATH Act in 2015 removed residency requirements from 529 ABLE accounts, giving individuals the option of using any state’s plan. Yet some states may offer tax benefits for those who use their home state’s plan.

Why 529 ABLE Accounts Are Important

Prior to the ABLE Act, if a person with a disability earned more than $700 per month or had savings or other assets in excess of $2,000 they risked having to forfeit eligibility for government programs like Medicaid. The only way families could get around this was to set up a special needs trust, which is often very costly to do. As a result, there has been little incentive to save, and many people with disabilities end up living below the poverty level.

Qualified Disability Expenses

Funds in the ABLE account can be withdrawn tax-free to pay for qualified expenses. Qualified disability expenses include education, job training and support, healthcare, and financial management.

Eligibility

To qualify for a 529 ABLE account, individuals must have been diagnosed with a significant disability before they turned 26 years old, with a condition expected to last at least 12 consecutive months. The individual must also be receiving benefits under SSI and/or SSDI, or be able to obtain a disability certification from a doctor.

As of January 1, 2023, parents who have saved money in a 529 college savings account may be able to roll up to $17,000 of the funds into a 529 ABLE account in the event the beneficiary is later diagnosed with a disability such as autism.

Investment Options

States provide families with multiple investment options to suit various savings goals and risk tolerance levels. Account owners will be able to make changes to their investments two times per year.

States With Active 529 ABLE Accounts

Each state will establish its own regulations to make 529 ABLE accounts available. Here is a list of ABLE programs by the state that is currently open for new accounts:

State
Plan Name
Residency Requirement
State Tax Deduction
Alabama
NO
Alaska
NO
NO
Arizona
YES
Contributions to the STABLE Account Plan are not deductible for Arizona state income tax purposes. Earnings from the investment of contributions to a STABLE Account Plan will not be subject to Arizona state income tax, to the extent such earnings are exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 529A.
Arkansas
NO
NO
California
NO
NO
Colorado
NO
NO
Connecticut
NO
NO
Delaware
NO
NO
District of Columbia
NO
NO
Florida
YES
NO
Georgia
YES
Contributions to the STABLE Account Plan are not deductible for Georgia state income tax purposes. Earnings from the investment of contributions to a STABLE Account Plan will not be subject to Georgia state income tax, to the extent such earnings are exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 529A.
Illinois
NO
NO
Indiana
NO
NO
Iowa
NO
Iowa individual taxpayers who make a contribution can deduct up to $3,474 for 2021 (adjusted annually for inflation) of their contributions including rollovers from a Non-Iowa 529A plan, in determining their adjusted gross income for Iowa income tax purposes.
Kansas
NO
NO
Kentucky
YES
Contributions to the Plan are not deductible for Kentucky state income tax purposes. Earnings grow tax-deferred from Kentucky state income tax.
Louisiana
YES
NO
Maryland
NO
Each beneficiary or individual who contributes to the beneficiary’s ABLE account can deduct up to $2,500 of contributions each year from his/her Maryland income per beneficiary; $5,000 for two, $7,500 for three, etc. Contributions in excess of $2,500 can be deducted for up to the next 10 years. Contributions in following years could be eligible for deduction; however, more than $2,500 per beneficiary may not be deducted in any year and the 10-year limit on each year’s contribution may not be extended.
Massachusetts
NO
NO
Michigan
NO
Contributions to a plan account are deductible, in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly ($5,000 for single taxpayers and for married taxpayers filing separate returns), in computing the contributor’s taxable income under Michigan law.
Minnesota
NO
NO
Mississippi
NO
Any contributor to a Mississippi ABLE account may deduct from their Mississippi taxable income any contributions into a Mississippi ABLE account up to a maximum annual amount limit established by Congress for such accounts for single, joint, and other filers.
Missouri
YES
Missouri residents and taxpayers may deduct the number of their contributions to a MO ABLE Account from their Missouri adjusted gross income. Annual contributions made to the MO ABLE program up to and including eight thousand dollars ($8,000) per participating taxpayer, and up to sixteen thousand dollars ($16,000) for married individuals filing a joint tax return, shall be subtracted in determining Missouri adjusted gross income.
Montana
NO
Any earnings on contributions are not subject to Montana state income tax. Account assets grow free of current Montana income tax and are tax-free if withdrawn for qualified disability expenses.
Nebraska
NO
Contributions by anyone who files a Nebraska state income tax return are eligible to receive a Nebraska state income tax deduction for their own contributions of up to $10,000 ($5,000 if married, filing separately).
Nevada
NO
NO
New Hampshire
YES
New Hampshire does not have a state income tax. Income and distributions from any qualified ABLE program as defined in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall be exempt from the interest and dividends tax pursuant to RSA 77:4-h, provided that distributions from the plan which are subject to federal income tax shall be subject to the interest and dividends tax pursuant to RSA 77 on the accrued income portion of the savings plan distribution.
New Jersey
NO
NO
New Mexico
YES
Contributions to the Plan are not deductible for New Mexico state income tax purposes. However, contributions to the Plan that are considered non-taxable “gifts” for federal income tax purposes are subject to the same treatment for New Mexico state income tax purposes. Earnings grow tax-deferred from New Mexico state income tax. Earnings are not subject to New Mexico state income tax while they remain in a STABLE Account.
New York
YES
NO
North Carolina
NO
NO
Ohio
NO
Contributions are deductible for Ohio state income tax purposes, up to $4,000 per year, per STABLE Account, contributed to, with unlimited carry forward.
Oklahoma
YES
Beginning with 2021 income tax filing, contributions to an Oklahoma STABLE plan of up to $10,000 per year by an individual, and up to $20,000 per year by a married couple filing jointly, will be deductible in computing Oklahoma taxable income. Earnings grow tax-deferred from Oklahoma state income tax and are not subject to Oklahoma state income tax while they remain in an Oklahoma STABLE account.<br><br>
Oregon
NO
Oregon taxpayers are eligible to receive a state tax credit for contributions to accounts of up to $150 ($300 if filing jointly). The amount the taxpayer must contribute to get the full credit increases based on the taxpayer’s income. The tax credit provides the same maximum credit to all Oregonians who are saving for college, community college, trade school, or any other post-secondary education.<br><br> The tax credit went into effect on January 1, 2020, replacing the state income tax deduction. The deduction was allowed for contributions to an Oregon 529 plan of up to $2,435 by an individual, and up to $4,865 by a married couple filing jointly in computing Oregon taxable income, with a four-year carry forward of excess contributions. For account owners taking advantage or planning to take advantage of the carry forward, this option remains available for contributions made through December 31, 2019. Account owners are able to carry forward the unused subtraction over the following four years. The new tax credit would be in addition to any carried forward deductions.
Oregon
YES
Oregon taxpayers are eligible to receive a state tax credit for contributions to accounts of up to $150 ($300 if filing jointly). The amount the taxpayer must contribute to get the full credit increases based on the taxpayer’s income. The tax credit provides the same maximum credit to all Oregonians who are saving for college, community college, trade school, or any other post-secondary education.<br><br> The tax credit went into effect on January 1, 2020, replacing the state income tax deduction. The deduction was allowed for contributions to an Oregon 529 plan of up to $2,435 by an individual, and up to $4,865 by a married couple filing jointly in computing Oregon taxable income, with a four-year carry forward of excess contributions. For account owners taking advantage or planning to take advantage of the carry forward, this option remains available for contributions made through December 31, 2019. Account owners are able to carry forward the unused subtraction over the following four years. The new tax credit would be in addition to any carried forward deductions.
Pennsylvania
NO
NO
Rhode Island
NO
NO
South Carolina
YES
Contributions to the Plan are deductible for South Carolina state income tax purposes. South Carolina residents and taxpayers may deduct the number of their contributions to a STABLE Account from their South Carolina adjusted gross income, up to $15,000, for each STABLE Account to which they have contributed. Earnings grow tax-deferred from South Carolina state income tax.
Tennessee
NO
NO
Texas
YES
N/A; Texas does not impose a state income tax on individuals.
Utah
YES
Contributions to the STABLE Account Plan are not deductible for Utah state income tax purposes. Earnings grow tax-deferred from Utah state income tax. and are not subject to Utah state income tax while they remain in a STABLE Account.
Vermont
YES
Vermont ABLE contributions are not tax deductible on your federal or state income tax filings.
Virginia
NO
Virginia permits a Virginia individual income tax deduction for contributions to accounts. The amount deducted on any individual income tax return in any taxable year is generally limited to $2,000 per account. Contributors may carry forward any un-deducted amounts until their contributions have been fully deducted. Contributions are fully deductible in the year of contribution for taxpayers at least 70 years of age.
Virginia
NO
A Virginia individual income tax deduction of up to $2,000 per account on contributions, with unlimited carryovers to the extent of the contributions. Contributions are fully deductible in the year of contribution for taxpayers at least 70 years of age.
Washington
YES
Earnings on contributions are exempt from state income taxation. There is no state income tax on qualified withdrawals or rollovers.
West Virginia
YES
As of May 30, 2019, and pursuant to West Virginia Code §11-21-12(i), contributions to the plan are deductible for West Virginia state income tax purposes. West Virginia residents and taxpayers may deduct contributions to a STABLE Account from West Virginia adjusted gross income, but only to the extent the amount is not allowable as a deduction when arriving at the taxpayer’s federal adjusted gross income for the taxable year in which the payment is made. The taxpayer may also elect to carry forward the deduction over a period not to exceed five taxable years, beginning in the taxable year in which the contribution was made.
Wyoming
YES
Wyoming does not have a state income tax.

Choosing an ABLE Plan

There are a number of things you can consider when deciding which ABLE plan is a good match for you. While the ABLE National Resource Center recommends that you look for an ABLE plan in your home state, you aren’t restricted to just looking there. However, selecting an ABLE plan from your home state could provide certain tax benefits.

Some other factors that you may want to include in your search are:

  • Whether the account is FDIC-insured.
  • Whether the plan offers enrollment to out-of-state residents.
  • Whether the account offers a debit card.
  • The maximum amount you can hold in the account (if you plan on getting an account size above $100,000).
  • Any fees related to maintaining the account.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About ABLE Plans

What is a 529A plan?

A 529A plan is the same thing as an ABLE plan. The ABLE plans were created off of 529 accounts and were given the 529A name before they were more routinely referred to as ABLE plans. Everything listed above is the same for 529A plans, including 529A contribution limits, as what we’ve listed under ABLE plans.

How many ABLE programs are there?

There are currently 49 ABLE programs throughout the country. Most of these plans enroll individuals, regardless of their state of residence. There are still a few states that do not have ABLE plans, including Idaho, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Do banks offer ABLE accounts?

Banks don’t offer ABLE accounts directly but many of the state plans are administered by banks, where your money would be kept. You can verify that the funds in the account will be FDIC-insured before deciding which plan you want to use.

A good place to start:

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