The number onereason to enroll in Independent 529 Plan is to help your child enjoy the benefits of a private college education. But if you could accomplish this goal and take advantage of tax breaks at the same time, that wouldn’t exactly be a bad thing, would it?

When you buy Independent 529 Plan “tuition certificates,” the increase in value between the original amount purchased and the amount of tuition for which it is redeemed is federal tax-free. That means no surprise tax penalties for you when your child uses his or her certificates at any one of the over 250 participating privates colleges and universities, including Rider University

Of course, there are also significant estate and gift tax benefits. Contributions to Independent 529 Plan are completed gifts and purchases of up to $11,000 per year for one beneficiary ($22,000 for married couples) are free of federal gift tax. This reduces the taxable value of your estate.

Plus, like all 529 plans, Independent 529 Plan enjoys the benefit of a federal five year-averaging provision. So, you can elect to treat up to $55,000 ($110,000 for married couples) as having been made in five equal gifts over a five-year period. Thus, you can spread out your federal gift tax exclusion over time.

By combining private college tuition savings with great tax benefits, it’s no wonder Independent 529 Plan was named a BusinessWeek “Best Product of 2003.”

For more information (including the Disclosure Booklet) on everything Independent 529 Plan has to offer or to enroll online today, visit www.independent529plan.org.