What a 529 can pay for before college
Under the federal rules in effect for 2026. Some conditions apply to tutoring and therapies.
K-12 tuition
At a public, private or religious elementary or secondary school.
Curriculum, books and materials
Including a homeschool curriculum and online learning.
Tutoring outside the home
From a tutor who is not a relative and is a licensed teacher, former teacher or subject expert.
Exam fees
SAT, ACT, AP and other qualifying tests.
Dual enrollment
College courses taken while still in high school.
Certain therapies
Educational therapies for a student with a disability, from a qualified provider.
What does not qualify
School uniforms, Sports equipment and fees, Ordinary extracurricular activities, School transportation.
The tradeoff is real
Money withdrawn now stops growing tax-free, so there is less for college. We show what a yearly amount does to the college fund, with the lost growth counted.
Your state decides, too
A withdrawal can be tax-free federally and still taxed by your state. Set your home state and we tell you what applies before you withdraw.
The limit is per student
$20,000 a year across every 529 the student has. Launch529 counts what you log against it so a reimbursement never goes over.
Check an expense
Try “private school tuition”, “SAT fee”, “tutor” or “uniform”.
Questions about 529s before college
Can I use a 529 for private school?
Yes. Under federal rules, up to $20,000 a year per student (from 2026) can pay for K-12 tuition at public, private and religious schools, plus curriculum, books, online learning, qualified tutoring, exam fees, dual enrollment and certain therapies.
Is the $20,000 limit per plan or per child?
Per student, per calendar year, across every 529 plan the student has. If a grandparent also pays from their own 529 for the same child, both count toward the same $20,000.
Will my state tax a K-12 withdrawal?
Possibly. The federal rule and your state's rule are separate. As of January 2026, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Vermont were reported as not treating K-12 as qualified, and a few other states (Arizona, Connecticut, Iowa and Louisiana) have conditions or conflicting reports. Check your state tax agency before you withdraw.
Does paying K-12 from the 529 hurt college savings?
Yes, because money taken out stops growing. Launch529 shows what a given yearly amount does to the college fund, using the same projection as the savings planner, and the estimated state tax where one applies.
What does Launch529 do for K-12 families?
On the free Planner, add each child's K-12 school, see what your state does with K-12 withdrawals, and try the college tradeoff. Pro tracks the actual expenses and receipts, the $20,000 yearly limit, and reimbursements to whoever paid.
Is this tax advice?
No. It is general information based on published rules, which change and differ by state. Talk to a qualified professional about your situation.
General information as of October 2026, not tax, legal or financial advice. State rules change and differ.