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AZ529, Arizona's Education Savings Plan

4 / 5

Our rating

Good AZ resident benefits

AZ resident benefits

AZ529, Arizona's Education Savings Plan is a Fidelity-managed 529 plan follows the same approach as other Fidelity plans in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. It features three age-based options; one using Fidelity Series actively managed funds; one using Fidelity Series index funds; and a third using a combination of the two. The plan also offers 10 static options, one option that invests in an interest-bearing deposit account, and a stable value option that invests in a separately managed account that may invest in individual securities or Fidelity mutual funds and investment contracts issued by third-party insurance companies or banks.

AZ529, Arizona's Education Savings PlanHigh Honors

KEY METRICS

OVERVIEW

Program type

Savings

Inception

2005

State agency

Office of the Arizona State Treasurer

Tax deduction

For single filers: $2,000/yr per beneficiary

For joint filers: $4,000/yr per beneficiary

Program manager

Fidelity Investments

Program distributor

Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC

Manager contract term

Eligibility

State residency requirements:

None

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:

None

Contributions

Maximum contributions:

Accepts contributions until all account balances in Arizona's 529 plans for the same beneficiary reach $590,000.

Minimum contributions:

There is no minimum to open an account. With the automatic investment plan, the minimum contribution level is $15 per month or $45 per quarter.

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

This plan offers an online tool to share a gift contribution link with family and friends.

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 AZ529, Arizona's Education Savings Plan can select from the following investment options. Click on a portfolio name for more information.

Choose between 3 age-based options, one invested in Fidelity Series actively managed funds, another invested in Fidelity Series index funds, and a Fidelity Blend option with a combination. Contributions are placed into the portfolio corresponding to the beneficiary's age. The portfolios automatically shift to a more conservative investment allocation over time.

Age-based/Enrollment Year investment options:

Choose between 3 age-based options, one invested in Fidelity Series actively managed funds, another invested in Fidelity Series index funds, and a Fidelity Blend option with a combination. Contributions are placed into the portfolio corresponding to the beneficiary's age. The portfolios automatically shift to a more conservative investment allocation over time.

Static investment options:

Select from 6 multi-fund portfolios, 4 individual-fund portfolios, a Bank Deposit Portfolio and a Stable Value Portfolio.

Underlying investments:

Fidelity Investments. For the Bank Deposit Portfolio only, a deposit in an FDIC-insured interest-bearing account (Wells Fargo).

Underlying fund allocations:

Portfolio Fees & Performance Lookup

Fees & Expenses

Enrollment or application fee:

None.

Account maintenance fee:

None.

Program management fees:

0.09% for the Fidelity index fund options (includes 0.02% state fee); 0.17% for the Fidelity fund options (includes 0.045% state fee); 0.12% for the Fidelity Blend options (includes 0.04% state fee). For the Bank Deposit Portfolio, fees vary from 0.00% to 0.10% (including 0.05% state fee) based on the Federal Funds Target Rate.

Expenses of the underlying investments:

Ranges from 0.01% to 0.05% annualized in the Fidelity index fund portfolios, from 0.30% to 0.78% annualized in the Fidelity funds portfolios, 0.28% to 0.47% in the Fidelity Blend portfolios, and 0.45% in the Stable Value Portfolio. For the Bank Deposit Portfolio, there is no underlying fund expense. There is, however, a Bank Administration Fee, which ranges from 0.00%-0.40% and is based on the Federal Funds Target Rate.

Total asset-based expense ratio:

0.10% - 0.95%

Taxes and other Benefits

Tax deduction for single filers:

$2,000/yr per beneficiary

Tax deduction for joint filers:

$4,000/yr per beneficiary

Program match on contributions:

None.

State tax deduction or credit for contributions:

Contributions to Arizona AND non-Arizona 529 plans of up to $2,000 per year per beneficiary by an individual, and up to $4,000 per year per beneficiary by a married couple filing jointly, are deductible in computing Arizona taxable income. The original sunset date of December 31, 2012 has been removed, thus making the deduction permanent.

Calculate your Arizona 529 tax benefit

Find out how much you can save on state taxes this year by contributing to a Arizona 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 Arizona taxable income to the extent of prior Arizona tax deductions. Nonqualified withdrawals for this purpose do not include withdrawals made as the result of the beneficiary's death or disability, withdrawals made on account of the beneficiary's receipt of a scholarship, or rollovers.

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. Distributions from a 529 account directly to a Roth IRA are considered a qualified expense for state income tax purposes.

State tax treatment of qualified distributions:

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

State tax treatment of rollovers:

Arizona follows federal tax-free treatment.

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

Yes

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, Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card rebates 2% of purchases.

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:

To whomever the account owner specifies - the account owner, the beneficiary, a school, or anyone else.

Account Changes

Policy regarding participant/owner changes:

Accepts requests to transfer account ownership. However, the program may report an owner change as a nonqualified distribution subject to all applicable federal and state taxes and penalties.

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

Telephone:

1-800-544-1262

Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/AZCollegeSavings

A good place to start:

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