re: LA 529 Start Plan for HS Tuition

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The best way for me to maximize the deduction is to pay $6,000 out of pocket, and use my saved START funds for the remaining balance of tuition?

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Seems that way to me. Tax free growth is great and all, but you have to use it at some point so that strategy makes the most sense to me.

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Also, am I correct in understanding I cannot write off $2400 of START deposit and also claim the $6,000 Tuition deduction in the same year?

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I kind of butchered this explanation so I’ll try again. Specifically for K-12, you can claim a deduction for up to $2,400 per beneficiary in a year if you contribute at least $2,400. If that money is withdrawn in the same year, you cannot claim the deduction (you can’t put the cash in then turn around and spend it immediately on tuition). However, expenses that qualify for the school tuition deduction can also be claimed as long as they’re not paid for by start contributions.


So, the way I read it, you can contribute $2400+/yr before your kids start school. Once you start having actual educational expenses, you claim the tuition deduction for any of those expenses that are NOT paid using start funds.

It gets a little weird when you withdraw funds from start and make a contribution in the same year - it appears you cannot claim the deduction if your withdrawal is more than your contribution for that year.

LDR information bulletin that addresses some of this