What Are the Max 529 Contribution Limits?
The maximum you can contribute to a 529 plan isn't a single figure. It's a balance of federal tax guidelines and state-specific aggregate policies.
A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings account designed to help families set aside funds for future education costs. Money invested in a 529 plan can grow free from federal taxes, and withdrawals for qualified education expenses are also tax-free. The contribution rules are established by both federal tax law and the individual state governments that sponsor the plans.
The Annual Gift Tax Exclusion Limit
The primary contribution guideline for a 529 plan is tied to the federal annual gift tax exclusion. For 2025, this amount is $19,000 per individual, per recipient. A person can contribute up to this amount to a beneficiary’s 529 plan without creating a taxable gift or needing to file a federal gift tax return, known as IRS Form 709.
This limit is applied on a per-person basis, allowing married couples to combine their exclusions and contribute up to $38,000 to a single beneficiary’s account in 2025. For example, a couple with two children could contribute a total of $76,000 in one year ($38,000 to each child’s account) without gift tax implications.
If an individual contributes more than the $19,000 annual limit, the excess amount must be reported on Form 709. While this filing is required, it does not automatically mean taxes are due. The excess is applied against the contributor’s lifetime gift tax exemption, which is over $13 million per person.
Accelerated Contributions Using the 5-Year Rule
Federal tax law allows for a large, upfront contribution to a 529 plan through a method called “superfunding.” This provision lets a contributor use five years’ worth of their annual gift tax exclusion in a single year. Based on the 2025 exclusion of $19,000, an individual can make a lump-sum contribution of up to $95,000 per beneficiary, while a married couple can jointly contribute up to $190,000.
To use this method, the contributor must elect on a federal gift tax return (Form 709) to treat the contribution as being made over a five-year period. This filing is required for the year the contribution is made, even if no gift tax is due.
Making a five-year accelerated contribution uses the contributor’s annual gift tax exclusion for that beneficiary for the entire five-year period. No additional gifts can be made to that same beneficiary during those five years without being subject to gift tax rules and counting against the lifetime gift tax exemption.
State-Specific Aggregate Contribution Limits
In addition to federal gift tax rules, 529 plans have an overall maximum contribution limit. This aggregate limit is not an annual cap but a lifetime limit on the total value of an account for one beneficiary. Each state sets its own limit, so the maximum allowable account balance varies significantly between plans.
These limits are designed to cover the expected costs of higher education and generally range from around $235,000 to over $550,000. Once an account reaches its state-specific maximum, no further contributions are allowed. The account can, however, continue to grow through investment earnings.
To find the aggregate limit for a particular 529 plan, individuals should consult the plan’s official disclosure document, which is available on the plan’s website. This document contains all the rules governing the account.