Hal_Al
Level 15

Education

Q. Is our son's college apartment that we paid for from our 529 considered a college expense, as in the "room" in the "room and board" entry line?

A. Yes.  

Off campus rent and food are eligible expenses for a 529 distribution, but the amount is limited to the lesser of your actual cost or what the school charges on campus students for R&B (technically the schools "allowance for cost of attendance" for financial aid purposes).

References:

https://www.glassjacobson.com/blog/529-off-campus-housing/  

http://turbotax.intuit.com/support/iq/Education/Information-about-Form-1099-Q/GEN12272.html