What expenses can a 529 plan actually pay for?

A 529 covers a wide range of qualified education costs tax-free. For college: tuition, mandatory fees, books, supplies, required equipment (including a computer and internet), and room and board if the student is enrolled at least half-time. Beyond traditional college, you can use up to $10,000 per year per beneficiary for K-12 tuition, pay for registered apprenticeship program costs, and repay up to $10,000 (lifetime) of the beneficiary's student loans — plus another $10,000 for each of their siblings. It does not cover transportation, health insurance, or extracurricular fees. Spend from the 529 in the same calendar year the expense is incurred, and keep receipts in case you ever need to document that a withdrawal was qualified.