A 529 plan to Roth IRA rollover
A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged plan, operated by a state or educational institution, used to save for college and educational expenses. Beginning in 2024, with the SECURE Act 2.0 signed into law, eligible funds from an established 529 account can be transferred tax-free to a Roth IRA for the beneficiary of the 529 account. This may enable you to repurpose any unused education savings toward retirement with no tax penalty. Additional details can be found in IRS publication 590-A.
Robinhood doesn’t offer 529 plans. 529 rollovers are irreversible. Consult a tax professional before proceeding. Robinhood doesn’t provide tax advice.
Before initiating a 529 plan to a Roth IRA rollover, confirm your eligibility with the 529 plan administrator or financial institution. Robinhood makes no determination on the eligibility of any rollover check received. The requirements include the following:
Before you begin, confirm if you have a 529 that’s eligible with your 529 plan administrator or financial institution.
Before initiating a 529 plan rollover, confirm you have a Roth IRA set up with us. If you don’t, complete the steps in Set up your IRA and select Roth IRA.
Contact your 529 plan administrator, confirm what’s required for the rollover, and ask that the check be payable to:
Robinhood Securities FBO "your name" Roth IRA "your Roth IRA account number"
And send the check to this secure lockbox address:
Robinhood Securities, Direct Rollovers, PO Box 772994, Detroit, MI 48277-2994
The total amount of the check, plus any other IRA contributions you make at Robinhood or other IRA providers, must not exceed the annual IRA contribution limit for the applicable tax year. You are responsible for ensuring compliance with contribution limits.
No. Robinhood cannot split a single check across different tax years or contribution types. 529 to Roth IRA checks will be applied as a Roth IRA contribution for the current tax year, unless the check is clearly marked for the prior tax year and was issued and mailed before the tax filing deadline.
If the 529 to Roth rollover check amount combined with all other IRA contributions on our platform exceeds the annual Roth IRA contribution limit, Robinhood will report the full amount of the check as a rollover on Form 5498 and will notify you. Consult a tax professional for help with this unique situation.
No. The rollover can only be made from a 529 plan beneficiary to a Roth IRA for the same person. You cannot rollover a 529 plan to a different person’s Roth IRA.
By default, contributions apply to the current tax year. If the check is intended for the prior tax year, it must be explicitly indicated as a prior-year contribution and issued and mailed before the tax filing deadline. Your contributions will show on the applicable tax year’s IRS Form 5498 and in your account statement. Check out Finding your reports and statements for how to find them.
For more details about Roth IRAs, contribution limits, and rollovers, check out IRA overview and Transfers and rollovers.
This is not a recommendation to rollover. You need to consider the pros and cons of this option. Robinhood doesn’t provide tax advice. Consult a tax professional to understand your unique situation. For more information, review this FINRA article.
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing.
Funds being contributed into or distributed from retirement accounts may entail tax consequences. Contributions are limited and withdrawals before age 59 1/2 may be subject to a penalty tax.
Contents provided are for informational purposes only and don't constitute tax or investment advice. Links to third-party sites are being provided for informational purposes only.
The Robinhood Roth IRA is available to any customer with a Robinhood investing account in good standing.