<p>By my reading of IRS eligible college expenses (and I actually have an accounting degree, though I don'y play one in real life) I can make a 529 withdrawal from my beneficiary's account to purchase a new primary instrument for his major which is performance and music ed?</p>
<p>Has any one else looked into this or done it ?</p>
<p>sagiter, here’s one similar question with a response from a financial aid officer <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/673438-can-stafford-loan-used-towards-buying-musical-instrument.html?highlight=instrument[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/673438-can-stafford-loan-used-towards-buying-musical-instrument.html?highlight=instrument</a>. You may want to pm kelsmom, as my recollection is the 529 is a different animal, with specific restrictions.</p>
<p>A new instrument an upgrade should qualify as an allowable expense for a performance major.</p>
<p>Just in case anyone need to refer to this question:</p>
<p>This morning I spoke with the financial aid office at SUNY Potsdam (Crane School of Music), a HESC Financial Services and a 529 rep for the Vanguard Group who runs our specific NYS 529 plan and was given the same information by all three. </p>
<p>It is absolutely permissible to use 529 funds for the purchase of an instrument to be used by a Music Performance major or Music Ed major as “equipment required for the student-beneficiary’s enrollment”</p>
<p>From the HESC Website:</p>
<p>What are qualified higher education expenses?</p>
<p>Qualified higher education expenses are currently defined by the IRS as room and board (for students enrolled at least half time), tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for the student-beneficiary’s enrollment.</p>
<p>sagiter, thanks for posting what you found out. For future reference, I linked this thread to the similar question on Stafford loans.</p>