ARTICLE TAKEAWAYS
Money from your CollegeAmerica account can be sent to the account owner, beneficiary or school. The recipient you choose to send the distribution to determines how it will be reported for tax purposes. Most distributions can be requested online. Distributions can be sent by:
* To send money from a distribution to a bank account that is not already on file, complete the Add/Update Bank Information form (PDF). There is a 10-calendar-day hold from the day we process the request before this method can be used, unless an original signature guarantee is provided. For more information, review Link a bank account for investments and withdrawals.
Some requests, including distributions to a bank account added within the last 10 business days, distributions of $25,000 or more sent to the beneficiary or distributions payable or sent to a third party must be submitted in writing with a signature guarantee. For additional information and requirements, review Signature guarantees.
Use this option for qualified expenses you, as the account owner, have paid for or will pay for, such as tuition, room and board, books, etc.
Distributions for $125,000 or less payable to the account owner can be requested:
Distributions for $250,000 or less but more than $125,000 payable to the account owner can be requested:
Distributions for more than $250,000 must be requested in writing. Complete the CollegeAmerica Distribution Request (PDF) with a signature guarantee.
Note: Distributions payable to the account owner are reported under the account owner’s Social Security number (SSN).
Use this option for qualified expenses the student/beneficiary has paid for or will pay for, such as tuition, room and board, books, etc.
Distributions for $125,000 or less sent via ACH to the beneficiary’s bank account on file can be requested:
* This method can also be used to request a check be mailed to the beneficiary’s address.
Distributions for more than $125,000 must be requested in writing. Complete the CollegeAmerica Distribution Request (PDF) with a signature guarantee.
Note: Distributions payable to the beneficiary are reported under the beneficiary’s SSN.
Use this option to send a check and pay the school directly for qualified expenses, such as tuition or room and board.
To request a check be sent to the school, you’ll need:
Distributions payable to the school can be requested:
Note: Distributions payable to an eligible institution are reported under the beneficiary’s SSN.