OCLC Number: 56356329 Excerpt: ... II. PRIVATE PRE-PAID TUITION PROGRAMS; EXCLUSION FROM GROSS INCOME OF EDUCATION DISTRIBUTIONS FROM QUALIFIED TUITION PROGRAMS Present Law Section 529 of the Code provides tax-exempt status to " qualified State tuition programs, " meaning certain programs established and maintained by a State ( or agency or instrumentality thereof ) under which persons may ( 1 ) purchase tuition credits or certificates on behalf of a designated beneficiary that entitle the beneficiary to a waiver or payment of qualified higher education expenses of the beneficiary, or ( 2 ) make contributions to an account that is established for the purpose of meeting qualified higher education expenses of the designated beneficiary of the account ( a " savings account plan " ). The term " qualified higher education expenses " generally has the same meaning as does the term for purposes of education IRAs ( as described above ) and, thus, includes expenses for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for 3 the enrollment or attendance at an eligible educational institution, as well as certain room and board expenses for any period during which the student is at least a half-time student. No amount is included in the gross income of a contributor to, or a beneficiary of, a qualified State tuition program with respect to any distribution from, or earnings under, such program, except that ( 1 ) amounts distributed or educational benefits provided to a beneficiary are included in the beneficiary's gross income ( unless excludable under another Code section ) to the extent such amounts or the value of the educational benefits exceed contributions made on behalf of the beneficiary, and ( 2 ) amounts distributed to a contributor ( e.g., when a parent receives a refund ) are included in the contributor's gross income to the extent such amounts exceed 4 contributions made on behalf of the beneficiary. A qualified State tuition program is required to prov...