Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Non-investing personal finance issues including insurance, credit, real estate, taxes, employment and legal issues such as trusts and wills.
Post Reply
Topic Author
katnok
Posts: 217
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:36 pm

Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by katnok »

I am trying to set up a 529 plan for one of my kids (US citizens). After reading here and elsewhere, I have decided to open a Utah 529 plan, but seems like I have already hit a roadblock.

One of the questions in the process asks "Are you a US Citizen/Resident Alien". I couldn't proceed any further without answering "yes" to this question, but I am not sure if that's the answer.
For tax purposes, I am a "resident alien", but a "non-resident alien" (in line for a "green card") for immigration purposes.

Does anyone have any idea as to which definition applies here?

Your help will be much appreciated.
Thank you.
sscritic
Posts: 21853
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:36 am

Re: Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by sscritic »

One answer from google and the web:
If you are on work visa in USA you are a resident alien and not a Non-
Resident Alien. Dont confuse resident alien with green card. You can
do any kind of passive investing within the law if you are a resident
alien meaning you reside in US and have a lawful job.

Same applies for stock investing, IRA, roth-IRA etc. To be extra
certain you can contact the broker through whom you plan to get 529.
http://www.accountantforums.com/can-non ... 17073.html

Don't overlook the last line: call the Utah plan and ask. Wait three days and call again. If the answer is not the same as the first answer, ask to speak to a supervisor.
Here is another google result:
Can a non-U.S. citizen open a 529 account?

Yes, with a few limitations. Section 529 plan account applications generally ask for the Social Security number of the account owner and the beneficiary. If you will be the account owner and you don't have a Social Security number, check with the administrator of the 529 plan before you send any money to see how you'll be handled. Some 529 plans allow resident aliens to be the account owner, but normally these plans still require a Social Security number.
http://www.360financialliteracy.org/Imp ... 29-account
Topic Author
katnok
Posts: 217
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:36 pm

Re: Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by katnok »

sscritic wrote:One answer from google and the web:
If you are on work visa in USA you are a resident alien and not a Non-
Resident Alien. Dont confuse resident alien with green card. You can
do any kind of passive investing within the law if you are a resident
alien meaning you reside in US and have a lawful job.

Same applies for stock investing, IRA, roth-IRA etc. To be extra
certain you can contact the broker through whom you plan to get 529.
http://www.accountantforums.com/can-non ... 17073.html

Don't overlook the last line: call the Utah plan and ask. Wait three days and call again. If the answer is not the same as the first answer, ask to speak to a supervisor.
Here is another google result:
Can a non-U.S. citizen open a 529 account?

Yes, with a few limitations. Section 529 plan account applications generally ask for the Social Security number of the account owner and the beneficiary. If you will be the account owner and you don't have a Social Security number, check with the administrator of the 529 plan before you send any money to see how you'll be handled. Some 529 plans allow resident aliens to be the account owner, but normally these plans still require a Social Security number.
http://www.360financialliteracy.org/Imp ... 29-account
sscritic, thank you for the links, but I have already googled my question and came across the above info. The first link does answer my question, but I am not sure how accurate the info is. As to the other link, a non-US citizen can be either a resident (i.e a green card holder or permanent resident) or non-resident alien (some one like myself who is on work visa). Again, these definitions are immigration related.
sscritic
Posts: 21853
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:36 am

Re: Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by sscritic »

I don't always trust the web either, so if you want to know if Utah will let you open a plan, you have to call Utah, at least once if not twice. At least that is what I would do if it were I.
sscritic
Posts: 21853
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:36 am

Re: Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by sscritic »

P.S. I also tried reading 26 USC 529 and the relevant sections of 26 CFR, but I couldn't find any references to alien or resident. The real issue may be whether you have a SS number or another form of TIN (you do), as mentioned in the second reference, not whether you have a green card.
Spirit Rider
Posts: 13977
Joined: Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:39 pm

Re: Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by Spirit Rider »

I think sscritic has given you the relevant information. 529 is section of the federal tax code. For IRS purposes you are considered a resident for tax purposes. Your immigration status and your tax status can be different. The information provided clarify this.

529 regulations, 401k regulations, etc... provide what plans "may" due. However, the plans themselves may have administrative rules that erect barriers. The only true answer here is for you to contact the provider of the UTAH 529 plan.
Topic Author
katnok
Posts: 217
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:36 pm

Re: Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by katnok »

I will give them a call sometime this coming week.
Thank you, sscritic and Spirit Rider.
yogesh
Posts: 693
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2012 6:20 pm

Re: Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by yogesh »

Spirit Rider wrote:I think sscritic has given you the relevant information. 529 is section of the federal tax code. For IRS purposes you are considered a resident for tax purposes. Your immigration status and your tax status can be different. The information provided clarify this.

529 regulations, 401k regulations, etc... provide what plans "may" due. However, the plans themselves may have administrative rules that erect barriers. The only true answer here is for you to contact the provider of the UTAH 529 plan.
Yes. SSN is required with tax status as resident as you are opening a tax deferred account abiding to Max contribution limits and sticking to girt tax rules.
Emergency: FDIC | Taxable: VTMFX | Retirement: TR2040
User avatar
HueyLD
Posts: 9789
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:30 am

Re: Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by HueyLD »

..............
Last edited by HueyLD on Sun Feb 08, 2015 6:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Topic Author
katnok
Posts: 217
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:36 pm

Re: Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by katnok »

HueyLD wrote:
I found a 529 application form from Scholarshare 529 plan ( http://www.csustan.edu/hr/Apps-Forms-Po ... cation.pdf ) and it asks two questions regarding residency:
Thanks for the above link, HueyLD. This makes it a bit clearer that I might be able to open a 529 plan. But, I will still speak with the plan administrator.
Topic Author
katnok
Posts: 217
Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2011 7:36 pm

Re: Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by katnok »

Update:
Called the customer service of Utah plan, and they told me that I am a resident alien for the purpose of opening a 529. So, the problem has been solved.
Thank you all for trying to help me.
sscritic
Posts: 21853
Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:36 am

Re: Am I a resident or non-resident alien for a 529 plan?

Post by sscritic »

Glad it worked out for you.
Post Reply