Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust (START) Saving Program

Contributions to a START Saving Program Account are deductible up to $2,400 per beneficiary, per year, or, if married and filing jointly, $4,800 per beneficiary. Unused portions of the contribution limits may be carried forward to subsequent years.

Earnings on a START Saving Program Account are deferred until withdrawn and, if used for Qualified Higher Education Expenses, are tax exempt from Louisiana State income taxes.

The State of Louisiana matches a portion of deposits to START accounts based on the Federal Adjusted Gross Income of the Account Owner and the Category of Account. Categories I through III are matched (2% to 14%) based on the account owner's AGI; Category 4 matches 2%; Category 5 has no state match since the beneficiary is not related and not a resident of Louisiana. Category VI accounts are matched (2% to 14%) based on the Federal Adjusted Gross Income of the Beneficiary's family.

The Value of an Education Savings Account has no impact on eligibility for Louisiana's scholarship programs.

Louisiana charges no fees to open an account, for the administration of the program or for monies deposited in the Louisiana Principal Protection Fund. The only fees are those charged by the Investment Manager to the program for its investments in Vanguard equity funds (from 6 to 32 basis points), which are passed to those account owners who select an Investment Option that includes equities.