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ISave 529

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Good IA resident benefits

IA resident benefits

ISave 529 is a direct-sold 529 education savings plan available to residents of any state offering low fees and 16 investment options from Vanguard. Iowa residents may enjoy a state tax deduction for contributions to the plan.

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ISave 529High Honors

KEY METRICS

OVERVIEW

Program type

Savings

Inception

1998

State agency

State Treasurer of Iowa

Tax deduction

For single filers: $5,800/yr per beneficiary

For joint filers: $11,600/yr per beneficiary

Program manager

State Treasurer of Iowa, Ascensus College Savings, and The Vanguard Group

Program distributor

State Treasurer of Iowa.

Manager contract term

MORE INFORMATION

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, and UGMA/UTMA custodians.

Significant time or age restrictions imposed by the program:

None

Did you know?

  • IA residents can claim a tax deduction for contributions to a IA 529 plan.

    Up to $11,600/yr ($5,800/yr for single filers) per year are eligible.

  • 529 plan contributions grow tax-free.

    Withdrawals are tax-free when used to pay for qualified higher education expenses.

  • You can contribute as much as you want, as often as you want.

    The key is to get started. Enroll today by completing a quick form online.

ISave 529
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Contributions

Maximum contributions:

Accepts contributions until all account balances in Iowa's 529 plans for the same beneficiary reach $505,000.

Minimum contributions:

$25, or $15 per pay period via payroll deduction.

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

This plan offers a robust gifting platform that allows gift-givers to save their own profile for recurring or future contributions.

Investment Options

Investors in ISave 529 can select from the following investment options. Click on a portfolio name for more information.

The Age-Based option is offered in four different risk levels (Aggressive, Growth, Moderate Growth and Conservative Growth) each containing 11 portfolios of underlying mutual funds. Contributions are placed into the portfolio corresponding to the risk level selected and the age of the beneficiary, and later reassigned to more conservative portfolios as the beneficiary approaches college age.
PortfolioE.R. % Equity1yr performance
Aggressive Growth: Moderate Growth Portfolio (15)0.17%60%6.03%
Aggressive Growth: Conservative Growth Portfolio (17)0.17%40%5.54%
Growth: Conservative Growth Portfolio (15)0.17%40%5.54%
Growth: Income Portfolio (17)0.17%20%5.02%
Aggressive Growth: Aggressive Growth Portfolio (0-5)0.17%100%6.96%
Aggressive Growth: Income Portfolio (19+)0.17%20%5.02%
Growth: Aggressive Growth Portfolio (0-5)0.17%100%6.96%
Growth: Conservative Income Portfolio (19+)0.17%0%4.45%
Moderate Growth: Growth Portfolio (0-5)0.17%80%6.46%
Conservative Growth: Moderate Growth Portfolio (0-5)0.17%60%6.03%
Aggressive Growth: Aggressive Growth Portfolio (6-7)0.17%100%6.96%
Aggressive Growth: Aggressive Growth Portfolio (8-9)0.17%100%6.96%
Aggressive Growth: Blended Aggressive Growth Portfolio (10-11)0.17%90%6.75%
Aggressive Growth: Growth Portfolio (12-13)0.17%80%6.46%
Aggressive Growth: Blended Growth Portfolio (14)0.17%70%6.28%
Aggressive Growth: Blended Moderate Growth Portfolio (16)0.17%50%5.76%
Aggressive Growth: Blended Conservative Growth Portfolio (18)0.17%30%5.19%
Growth: Blended Aggressive Growth Portfolio (6-7)0.17%90%6.75%
Growth: Growth Portfolio (8-9)0.17%80%6.46%
Growth: Blended Growth Portfolio (10-11)0.17%70%6.28%
Growth: Moderate Growth Portfolio (12-13)0.17%60%6.03%
Growth: Blended Moderate Growth Portfolio (14)0.17%50%5.76%
Growth: Blended Conservative Growth Portfolio (16)0.17%30%5.19%
Growth: Blended Income Portfolio (18)0.17%10%4.77%
Moderate Growth: Blended Moderate Growth Portfolio (10-11)0.17%50%5.76%
Moderate Growth: Blended Growth Portfolio (6-7)0.17%70%6.28%
Moderate Growth: Conservative Growth Portfolio (12-13)0.17%40%5.54%
Moderate Growth: Moderate Growth Portfolio (8-9)0.17%60%6.03%
Moderate Growth: Blended Income Portfolio (18)0.17%10%4.77%
Moderate Growth: Blended Conservative Growth Portfolio (14-15)0.17%30%5.19%
Moderate Growth: Income Portfolio (16-17)0.17%20%5.02%
Conservative Growth: Conservative Growth Portfolio (8-9)0.17%40%5.54%
Conservative Growth: Income Portfolio (12-13)0.17%20%5.02%
Conservative Growth: Blended Income Portfolio (14-15)0.17%10%4.77%
Conservative Growth: Blended Moderate Growth Portfolio (6-7)0.17%50%5.76%
Conservative Growth: Conservative Income Portfolio (16-17)0.17%0%4.45%
Conservative Growth: Conservative Income Portfolio (18)0.17%0%4.45%
Conservative Growth: Blended Conservative Growth Portfolio (10-11)0.17%30%5.19%
Conservative Growth: Interest Accumulation Portfolio (19+)0.17%0%2.89%
Moderate Growth: Interest Accumulation Portfolio (19+)0.17%0%2.89%

Age-based/Enrollment Year investment options:

The Age-Based option is offered in four different risk levels (Aggressive, Growth, Moderate Growth and Conservative Growth) each containing 11 portfolios of underlying mutual funds. Contributions are placed into the portfolio corresponding to the risk level selected and the age of the beneficiary, and later reassigned to more conservative portfolios as the beneficiary approaches college age.

Static investment options:

Select among six multi-fund portfolios (Aggressive Growth, Growth, Moderate Growth, Conservative Growth, Income, and Conservative Income) and six individual-fund portfolios.

Underlying investments:

Vanguard mutual funds.

Underlying fund allocations:

Portfolio Fees & Performance Lookup

Fees & Expenses

Enrollment or application fee:

None.

Account maintenance fee:

None.

Program management fees:

0.17% manager fee; fee includes underlying fund expenses.

Expenses of the underlying investments:

Not applicable, included in the program management fee.

Total asset-based expense ratio:

0.17%

Taxes and other Benefits

Tax deduction for single filers:

$5,800/yr per beneficiary

Tax deduction for joint filers:

$11,600/yr per beneficiary

Program match on contributions:

None.

State tax deduction or credit for contributions:

Contributions to an Iowa 529 plan of up to $5,800 for 2025 per beneficiary by an individual, and up to $11,600 per beneficiary by married taxpayers filing jointly who each make their own contributions, are deductible in computing Iowa taxable income. The maximum deduction increases each year with inflation. Only contributions made by the account owner are deductible. Iowa residents may elect to treat contributions made through the deadline (excluding extensions) for filing an individual Iowa state income tax return (generally April 30) as having been made in the prior year in order to claim the allowable annual deduction on their Iowa state tax return for the prior year.

Calculate your Iowa 529 tax benefit

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

Your tax savings per year
$0

Household income

$100,000

Monthly Contribution

$100

State tax recapture provisions:

You can perform a federally tax-free rollover from ISave 529 Iowa to a non-Iowa 529 plan for the same Beneficiary once every 12 months. However, for Iowa income tax purposes, a rollover to a non-Iowa 529 plan will be treated as a nonqualified withdrawal and taxed as income to the extent previously deducted as a contribution to ISave 529 Iowa.

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. For Iowa state income tax purposes, a withdrawal for payment of K-12 Tuition Expenses at a K--12 school which is not located in Iowa or which is not accredited under Iowa Code Section 256.11 or does not adhere to the provisions of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Iowa Code Chapter 216 will be treated as a nonqualified withdrawal and taxed as income to the extent previously deducted as a contribution to ISave 529 Iowa. Distributions from a 529 account directly to a Roth IRA are not considered a qualified expense for state income tax purposes.

State tax treatment of qualified distributions:

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

State tax treatment of rollovers:

Iowa follows federal tax-free treatment except that outbound rollovers are subject to the recapture of prior state tax deductions.

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, 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:

Did you know?

  • Residents are not limited to investing in their own state's 529 plan.

    Another state may offer a plan that performs better and has lower fees.

  • The 529 plan chosen does not affect which state the student enrolls in.

    You can live in New York, open a plan from Nevada and send a student to college in Florida.

  • The best way to maximize your college savings?

    Start early and save often. You can get started today with easy online enrollment.

ISave 529
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Distributions & Terminations

To whom are distributions made payable:

Eligible educational institution, beneficiary, or account owner, as directed by the account owner.

Account Changes

Policy regarding participant/owner changes:

Accepts requests to transfer account ownership.

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:

https://www.isave529.com/

Telephone:

1-888-672-9116

Twitter

http://twitter.com/iowa529plan

Social Media

https://www.facebook.com/ISave529

Start saving for your child's future today

Complete the online application and make your first deposit

ISave 529
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Enroll Now Count57,061 Clicked to Enroll

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