Qualified 529 Expenses

[Scottiedog]

I would like to figure out whether below items are qualified expenses for 529 plan:

Off-campus housing (Apartment) deposit

Off-campus housing application fees

Off-campus housing electricity

Off-campus housing furniture rental

Off-campus housing rental insurance

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous_]

@Hal_Al ?

[Hal_Al · Accepted solution]

Simple answer: all of those are qualified expenses for 529 plan distribution. If the deposit is refundable, then it wouldn't qualify. 

529 money can be use for off campus living, but you are limited to the lesser of your actual costs or the school's "allowance for cost for attendance" (basically what on campus students pay for Room & Board).

 If the school breaks down the cost of attendance between room and board, your housing cost would be limited to the school's cost of attendance for room.  The student must be half time or more, for a 529 distribution , for on or off campus living, to qualify. 

https://www.glassjacobson.com/blog/529-off-campus-housing/  (Excellent off campus explanation)