SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY'S EDUCATION JOURNEY.

Answer "Yes" to the Alaska 529 question on your PFD application.

Adventure Awaits When You Save For Education

Finding the spark that fuels the imagination is what life is all about. Whatever career path you or your child might choose, investing a PFD in an Alaska 529 account can help you plan for it.

 

  • Answer "Yes" to the Alaska 529 question on the PFD application to contribute half of a PFD into an Alaska 529 account, and you will be automatically entered to win a $25,000 scholarship. Learn more.
  • You have the option to save 100% of your or your child's PFD.
  • Alaska 529 is a tax-advantaged way to save for education-related expenses, including K–12, vocational school, apprenticeships, college and graduate school, and qualified education loans up to $10,000 lifetime.* Any earnings grow tax-deferred, and qualified distributions are exempt from federal taxes.** Learn more.

NEW!

DASH TO SAVE® INCENTIVE PROGRAM

Alaska 529 will pitch in a $250 contribution to new accounts opened and funded this year.§ If you checked "Yes" to contribute a PFD for the first time, you may be eligible for the new Dash to Save incentive program. You will need to need to open your account today and contribute $25 or more to get started prior to the date of the PFD distribution.

CHART A COURSE

Use the PFD Planner to see how contributing a PFD can help save for future education expenses.

I PLAN TO USE MY SAVINGS IN YEARS

Select what portion of your annual PFD you plan to contribute to your Alaska 529 account.
Saving half of a PFD
Saving a full PFD
 
left arrow Slide to reveal your potential savings by year right arrow

Assumes that each full PFD amount is $1,300 in the first year, increased 3% annually, and that each PFD amount is deposited at the beginning of the year. The chart also assumes a 6% hypothetical rate of return compounded monthly. This chart is for illustrative purposes only and does not predict or project the return of any specific investment option. Investment returns in Alaska 529 will vary and may be higher or lower than this example.

HOW CONTRIBUTING A PFD WORKS

 

STEP ONE
ANSWER "YES"

To contribute automatically, answer "Yes" to the Alaska 529 question on your PFD application.

STEP TWO
ACCOUNT REGISTRATION

After you submit your PFD application, you will receive a postcard or email confirming your election. In the summer, you'll also receive a letter detailing your account registration, portfolio selection, and more.

STEP THREE
RECEIVING YOUR CONTRIBUTION

We will send you a confirmation letter once we receive your PFD funds. 

KICK UP YOUR SAVINGS BY CONTRIBUTING A FULL PFD

Save more for your future education needs by automatically contributing 100% of a PFD to an Alaska 529 account. Here’s how to get started:

 

 

 

Submit the Direct Deposit form before you complete your PFD application. Once we process it, we will provide you with a routing and an account number.

 

 

 

 

Answer “Yes” on your PFD application to contribute the first half of your PFD and to be entered into the $25,000 Scholarship Account Giveaway.

 

 

Enter the routing and account number that we provided in the direct deposit section of your PFD application. After completing this process once, the second half of the PFD will go into your Alaska 529 account each year, unless you change your direct deposit information.

 

 

PFD contributions are invested in the same Alaska 529 account(s) as the applicant's most recent PFD contribution, unless we are notified otherwise. A change in sponsorAn adult who applies for a Permanent Fund Dividend on behalf of a minor child. on a minor's PFD application does not result in a change to the account holder or custodianA person who has executed an account agreement or a notice of intent to participate in Alaska 529 where the account holder is a minor, including when the account is funded from an UGMA or UTMA account (provided the custodian is required to act under the terms of the UGMA or UTMA). The custodian is responsible for performing all duties of the account holder, unless otherwise provided in the education savings program or this Plan Disclosure Document. on the Alaska 529 account.

 

If this is the first time you checked "Yes" on your PFD application, we will open your account based on the information provided on your PFD application and allocate your contribution into your Alaska 529 account(s) unless you instruct us otherwise.

You can open an account by checking "Yes" on your PFD application. The PFD applicant will be listed as the account holder and the beneficiary. If the PFD applicant is a minor, the sponsor will be listed as the custodian. Your contribution will be invested in the University of Alaska Portfolio, unless you open an account prior to the PFD distribution date. When opening your account, you will be able to change your investment portfolio, account holder, or custodian; set up your account preferences; and add any banking or additional contribution information. 

 

When you open and fund your account with $25 or more prior to the PFD distribution date, you may be eligible for the Dash to Save incentive program. Alaska 529 will reward a $250 bonus contribution to accounts that are new to saving with the plan this year.

If you have already submitted your PFD application, you can still invest a PFD to help save for future education expenses. Just update your application by logging in to my.alaska.gov or download the Alaska 529 Add or Withdraw form and mail or fax it to the PFD office by August 31.

To update the allocation of your PFD contribution into one or more accounts, call us at 1-800-478-0003 or send us a detailed letter of instruction. Mail the letter of instruction to Alaska 529 / P.O. Box 17302 / Baltimore, MD 21297-1302. Include the following information:

 

  • The PFD applicant's name and Social Security number, and the sponsor's name if applicable.
  • The Alaska 529 account number(s) where the PFD contribution should be invested. If multiple accounts are listed, the percentage of the PFD that should be allocated to each account should be provided.
  • The PFD applicant/sponsor's signature.

If you have changed your mind about contributing your PFD, log in at pfd.alaska.gov and change your PFD election. You may also download the Alaska 529 Add or Withdraw form and mail or fax it to the PFD office by August 31.

 

After your PFD contribution has been posted to your account, you may be eligible for a refund if the PFD contribution established the account. You must submit a PFD Refund form within 90 days after we receive your PFD. If you don’t qualify, you may request a distribution. If the distribution is nonqualified, any earnings may be subject to income taxes and a 10% tax penalty.

$25,000 SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT GIVEAWAY

Alaskans who contribute half of their 2024 PFD will be automatically entered to win a $25,000 scholarship account, funded by the Education Trust of Alaska. The scholarship account can be used at any eligible college, university, or vocational/trade school in the country. Certain restrictions apply; see the full Official Rules for details.

MEET THE 2023 WINNER

Congratulations Alejandra Choi of Anchorage, Alaska.

 

“We are thrilled and grateful to receive this scholarship account for Alejandra’s education, and grateful for the doors it will open for her. Education is important to our family, so we didn’t hesitate to answer ‘Yes’ on our PFD applications.”

 

– Simon Choi and Erika Rodriguez (Alejandra's parents)

 

The announcement occurred on November 4, 2023.