Student Empowerment Act
This bill expands the education-related expenses that may be paid for with tax-free distributions from a qualified tuition program (also known as a 529 plan) to include certain expenses related to elementary, secondary, and homeschool education.
Under current law, distributions from a 529 plan are excluded from gross income if they are used to pay for qualified higher education expenses, which includes up to $10,000 (per year and per beneficiary) for tuition at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school.
The bill expands the education-related expenses that may be paid for with tax-free distributions from a 529 plan to include tuition related to homeschooling and the following expenses related to elementary, secondary, and homeschool education:
- curriculum and curricular materials,
- books or other instructional materials,
- online educational materials,
- tutoring or educational classes outside the home,
- testing fees,
- fees for dual enrollment in an institution of higher education, and
- educational therapies for students with disabilities.