<p>D is an incoming freshman. I have parent access to her student account. The fall bill for the meal plan seems to have appeared in the account recently, and it shows as payment due on 8/3. The Bursar's Office website says all fall tuition/fees/etc. are due 8/3 for students attending early orientation. (D's orientation will be in late July, so counts as "early" but it's pretty late in the cycle). I'm wondering when to expect the tuition, fees and housing charges.</p>
<p>The timing is concerning me because I plan to request our 529 plan to make a direct payment to the university. This approach is supposed to be best for tax records, but can take 10 business days, apparently. If the other charges appear in the student account next week, say, there will be enough time for the 529 payment process. If not ... hmmm ... I'd have to come up with another plan.</p>
<p>I had a friend who had terrible trouble with 529 distributions to UGA last semester. The check never reached the bursars office and it got to the point that UGA threatened to withdraw her D from all classes. I think moving forward, she makes the payment and then claims it back from her 529. Just keep copies of statements etc for tax purposes</p>
<p>I can’t remember when tuition etc showed up in the bursars account, but I think it was early July.</p>
<p>Your friend’s experience is discouraging, Gibson. Thanks for the heads-up, though. I guess I’ll give the Georgia 529 plan one chance to get this right, if I can get the right amount this week.</p>
<p>I just checked my D’s account and the tuition charges were posted and her Zell Miller amount has also been credited.</p>
<p>I called the Bursar’s office this morning and learned that tuition charges are posted after the student registers. Unfortunately, my D did not realize the importance of registering for orientation immediately the site was open. She left it until the following day after school, when she was less busy … and therefore has orientation at the end of July. Ugh. I asked the Bursar’s office if the payment would nonetheless be due August 3rd, and they said yes. They also said the student can apply for a grace waiver of the $50 late charge.</p>
<p>Path2College (the Georgia 529 plan) shows a withdrawal on 07/09 for the amount I requested they send to D’s account at UGA (having decided to go ahead with trying a 529-to-UGA disbursement for the charges to date, rather than waiting for all charges to appear). No sign of a credit on D’s UGA account yet, but it would likely be a bit soon for that. I was careful to enter the correct address for the Bursar’s Office (as best I could find on the website) and I’m hoping to see a credit by the end of next week. Will report back here for the benefit of others who may (like me) be worried by the experience of Gibson’s friend.</p>
<p>Payment posted today! So it can work. Took one week.</p>