529 funds for UK school

[Byglander]

Hi - my D is considering enrolling in 4-year program at school in UK, specifically Scotland. Has anyone here actually used funds from a 529 plan to pay for college at a school in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK? It seems like it should be allowed under 529/IRS rules but I’m wondering if anybody has actually done it successfully.

Thanks!

[annoyingdad]

Eligible educational institution.

For purposes of a QTP, this is any college, university, vocational school, or
other postsecondary educational institution eligible to participate
in a student aid program administered by the U.S.
Department of Education. It includes virtually all accredited
public, nonprofit, and proprietary (privately owned
profit-making) postsecondary institutions. The educational
institution should be able to tell you if it is an eligible educational
institution.

Certain educational institutions located outside the United States also participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs.

Chapter 8 of IRS Pub 970:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf

I think you’d have to ask the school if they participate.

[Alfonsia]

St Andrew’s seems to be 529 accredited.

[Bigmacattack]

Go the the official FAFSA web site: https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/schoolSearch In the drop down location for “State”, you pick FC (which means Foreign Country). You have to make sure that the school your D is interested in is on this list. If it is not, you will have to pay taxes on the gains in your 529 account when you withdraw them. Lots of UK and Canadian schools are on the list.

[Byglander]

Thanks all!