U.S. · 2026 contributions
529 contribution deadline by state, 2026.
When a 529 gift has to be made to count for your state deduction, and how much each state lets you deduct.
It depends on the state. In Colorado the deduction follows the calendar year of the contribution, so the cutoff is December 31. Georgia's plan says you have until tax day (typically April 15) to apply a contribution to the prior year.
This hub covers the five states whose plan sites we could read and confirm. Pick a state for a calculator that works out your deductible amount and tax saved.
How to read this table
Each row is the deduction rule stated by that state's own 529 plan, read November 1, 2026. Caps are for the 2026 tax year where the source gives a year. "Timing" is the rule the plan source gives about which tax year a contribution counts for; where it says nothing, the cell says so rather than guessing.
| State | Cap | Timing | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $26,200 single / $39,200 joint, per beneficiary | Calendar year of the contribution (CollegeInvest) | Colorado 529 deduction |
| Pennsylvania | $19,000 per beneficiary / $38,000 joint | Not stated on the PA 529 FAQ; see PA-40 instructions | Pennsylvania 529 deduction |
| Virginia | $4,000 per account, unlimited carryforward | Excess carries forward with no time limit; age 70+ deducts all at once | Virginia 529 deduction |
| Georgia | $4,000 individual / $8,000 joint, per beneficiary | Through tax day (typically April 15) for the prior year (Path2College) | Georgia 529 deduction |
| Michigan | $5,000 single / $10,000 joint, per year | Tax-year contributions less qualified withdrawals (MESP) | Michigan 529 deduction |
Worked example
A married Georgia couple contributes $9,000 for one child in January 2027. Per the Path2College FAQ they can apply it to the 2026 return if they file by tax day, $8,000 being the joint cap, or apply it to the 2027 return. They choose the year; they should claim it only once. A Colorado couple has no such grace period in the plan's wording: CollegeInvest ties the subtraction to the calendar year of the contribution.
Limits of this page
Only five states are covered. For every other state, check the plan site and your state return; do not assume a state with an income tax offers a deduction, and do not assume a state with none does something else. The five caps are the plan administrators' statements, not statute text.
Sources
Primary sources opened and checked on November 1, 2026.
- CollegeInvest FAQs (Colorado)
- PA 529 FAQs (Pennsylvania)
- Invest529 tax benefits (Virginia)
- Path2College 529 FAQ (Georgia)
- MESP FAQ (Michigan)
- ScholarShare 529 FAQ (federal deduction statement)
Sources
Primary sources opened and checked on November 1, 2026. Figures are for tax year 2026 unless a source says otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
Is December 31 the 529 contribution deadline for state tax deductions?
Not everywhere. Colorado applies the deduction in the calendar year of the contribution, so December 31 matters there. Georgia's plan says you have until tax day, typically April 15, to apply a contribution to the prior year's return.
Which states on this page have a 529 deduction?
Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Georgia and Michigan, according to each state's own 529 plan site read on November 1, 2026.
Do all states cap the 529 deduction?
These five do, except Virginia's cap is per account with unlimited carryforward and none at age 70 and over.
Does a rollover from another 529 qualify?
Georgia and Michigan say transfers from another 529 plan are not eligible for their deduction.
Are other states covered?
Not yet. We could not read the plan or tax pages for California, Massachusetts, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, North Carolina, Indiana, Florida or Texas, so we do not state their rules.
Is there a federal deduction for 529 contributions?
No. ScholarShare 529 states there is no federal income tax deduction for 529 plan contributions regardless of which plan you use.
Not tax advice
This page is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Tax rules change and your facts may differ. Confirm anything that matters with your state tax agency, your 529 plan or a tax professional before you act. Everything runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.