Quest529 Education Savings Plan
What is a 529 Plan?
A 529 education savings plan is a tax-advantaged investment vehicle designed to support qualified education expenses. Congress created 529 Education Savings Plans in 1996 under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code, and all 529 Plans are affiliated with a State sponsor. The Kansas Quest529 Education Savings Plan is administered by the Kansas State Treasurer's office.
With just a few minutes to establish the account and a quick enrollment form, any employee can contribute to a 529 Plan with after-tax payroll deductions via direct deposit.
How do I start a 529 Plan?
To establish your account, contact Quest529 at 1-800-579-2203, or open an account online at Kansas 529 Education Savings Plan | Quest529.
You must have an active account with Quest529 before contributions can be made.
Change or stop contributions at any time. After your account is opened, instructions are found below for setting up contributions:
Getting Started
Log in to Quest529.com Go to the Profile & Documents on the home screen, select Payroll Direct Deposit > Change Payroll Instructions.
Change instruction
Enter the dollar amount per paycheck (and per beneficiary if you have multiple accounts), indicate if you are a state of Kansas employee, click Next.
- Employees of Wichita State University are state of Kansas employees.
- Employees of Intercollegiate Athletic Association (ICAA) should select not a state of Kansas employee.
Review Instruction
Review your Payroll Direct Deposit instruction and if correct, click Submit.
Submit to Employer
View and print the payroll direct deposit form by selecting Get Form. Then input the routing instructions into your employer's self-service portal for your contribution via direct deposit.
Direct Deposit Routing Instructions
- Account Type: Checking
- ABA Number: 011001234
- Account Number: 943 + first 9 digits of your Quest529 account number.
Remember, you must have an active account with Quest529 before setting up contributions via direct deposit.
If you have already enrolled in the Quest529 plan and simply need assistance setting up your direct deposit contribution via self-service, please reach out to Payroll@wichita.edu or (316) 978-3074.
What are the benefits of a 529 Plan?
- Simplicity of contributing via payroll through direct deposit
- Significant tax benefits on contributions and account earnings
- Kansas State income tax deduction up to $3,000 per year, per child ($6,000 if married
and filing jointly)
- Tax free withdrawals on qualified expenses
- With Quest529, you have full control over how to use your funds. Here is the wide
variety of qualified education expenses that can support your child in any path they
choose to take:
- Tuition at any eligible private or public college or university, community college, technical college, graduate school and professional school across the U.S. and many abroad
- Certain room and board (housing and food) related expenses
- Fees, books, supplies and other equipment needed for enrollment and attendance
- Computers and related technology such as internet access fees, software, or printers
- Certain additional enrollment and attendance costs for beneficiaries with special needs
- Pay for K-12 qualified expenses at a public, private or religious elementary, middle, or high school—up to $20,000 anually
- Pay for apprenticeship expenses federal tax-free—apprenticeship programs must be registered and certified with the Secretary of Labor under the National Apprenticeship Act
- Funds can also be used in these other helpful ways:
- Repay student loans—up to a $10,000 lifetime limit per individual (including principal and interest on any qualified education loan)
- Transfer additional or leftover funds to yourself or another eligible member of the family such as a brother or sister, up to the first cousin
- Quest529 funds may be rolled over to a Roth IRA in the name of the beneficiary. Funds
rolled over to a Roth IRA can be withdrawn free from federal and Kansas income tax.
There are conditions that must be met, including the 529 plan must have been in existence
for at least 15 years. You should talk to a qualified professional about how tax provisions
affect your circumstances.
- Please see the state tax treatment of withdrawals section in the Plan Description found at Quest529 - How does a 529 plan work? for more information.
What are the requirements for a 529 Plan?
- Contribute up to the IRS limit for each qualified beneficiary (currently, for the state of Kansas, aggregate account balance is $550,000 per beneficiary—includes growth and contributions)
- No employer match
For more information, visit the Kansas 529 Education Savings Plan | Quest529 website.
Who to Contact
HR Total Rewards Team
totalrewards@wichita.edu
SME: SM/JB
Revised: 04/22/2026 CP