Home / Education is Everything As a respected educator, you can help families prepare for the escalating costs of higher education by teaching children and their families sound higher education financial planning practices. Whether your students are preschoolers or high-schoolers, you can help families prepare for the future by providing information on the Minnesota College Savings Plan. Earnings Grow Federal and Minnesota Income Tax-deferred When an individual contributes to the Minnesota College Savings Plan, their account earnings have the opportunity to grow federal and Minnesota income tax-deferred until withdrawn. Any Earnings Used to Pay for Qualified Higher Education Expenses Are Federal and Minnesota Income Tax-Free The earnings portion of any distributions used to pay for qualified higher education expenses will be free from federal and Minnesota income tax. This federal income tax-free treatment of qualified withdrawals and other federal tax benefits are now permanently in place for 529 plans through the passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Federal Estate and Gift Tax Benefits Contributions to the Minnesota College Savings Plan may reduce the taxable value of an estate. Contributions to Minnesota College Savings Plan, together with all other gifts from the account owner to the beneficiary, may qualify for an annual federal gift tax exclusion of $12,000 per donor, per beneficiary for 2008. If an account owner's contribution to a Minnesota College Savings Plan account for a beneficiary in a single year exceeds $12,000, the account owner may elect to treat up to $60,000 of the contributions, or $120,000 for joint filers, as having been made over a period of up to five years for federal gift tax exclusion. Read more about our plan's features: Tax Advantaged Low Cost Flexible Managed By A Leading Financial Services Provider Funds Can Be Used at Eligible Schools Nationwide State Matching Grant Program Regular Account Information Investment Options Investment Performance Learn why it's so important to start now.

Help Prepare the Next Generation Call us toll-free at 1-877-338-4646 to: Meet with a Minnesota College Savings Plan Representative to discuss information for school nights, participation in special school programming, possible sponsorship for school events. Arrange Minnesota College Savings Plan seminars or webinars at your location. Request these resources: A Fun Family Activity Book (PDF, 2.4MB) Program Brochures (PDF, 429KB) Check out our FAQ and read the Minnesota College Savings Plan Disclosure Booklet and Participation Agreements (PDF, 773KB). PDF files require the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. Get it here. Tell a Friend Let a friend know about the Minnesota College Savings Plan. Calculate Your Savings Need Compare College Savings Options Questions? Call 1-877-338-4646

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The tax information contained on the Minnesota College Savings Plan Web site is not intended to be used, and cannot be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer. It was written to support the promotion of the products and services addressed in the Web site. Taxpayers should seek advice based on their own particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

Consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses before investing in the Minnesota College Savings Plan. Please call toll-free 1(877) 338-4646 for a Disclosure Booklet containing this information. Read it carefully.

Before investing in a 529 plan, you should consider whether the state you or your designated beneficiary reside in or have taxable income in has a 529 plan that offers favorable state income tax or other benefits that are only available if you invest in that state’s 529 plan.

TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, distributes Minnesota College Savings Plan. The State of Minnesota, its agencies, TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc., Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America and its affiliates do not insure any account or guarantee its principal or investment return except for TIAA-CREF Life Insurance Company’s guarantee to Minnesota College Savings Plan under the funding agreement for the Guaranteed Option. Account value will fluctuate based upon a number of factors, including general market conditions.

The Minnesota College Savings Plan Web site contains links to other Web sites. Neither Minnesota College Savings Plan nor TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. and its affiliates are responsible for the content of those other Web sites. The accuracy of information on those sites cannot be confirmed.

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© 2007 TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC, distributes Minnesota College Savings Plan. 2008 TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing Inc.