The Dec. 10 deadline for entering the NEST iPad Sweepstakes is quickly approaching, State Treasurer Don Stenberg said today. One iPad Air 2 will be given away in December as part of a statewide campaign to promote awareness of a free, online tutorial to learn more about saving for college.
Nebraskans can access the tutorial at www.treasurer.org. Users should click on iPad sweepstakes link at the top of the homepage to get started. Viewers who complete the tutorial by Dec. 10 may choose to enter a random drawing for an iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB. The winner will be announced the week of Dec. 15.
“The campaign has been very well received,” Treasurer Stenberg said. “We are pleased that the campaign has brought attention to our online tutorial about state-sponsored 529 college savings plans in general and the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust in particular. The online tutorial takes just 15 minutes to complete and provides valuable information for families looking for effective ways to save for college for their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and even for themselves.”
State-sponsored 529 college savings programs like NEST take their name from Section 529 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
The online tutorial features sections on myths vs. facts, tax incentives, and a knowledge check. Viewers can return to the tutorial as often as they like to find answers to specific questions or to review the content. The campaign also is an opportunity to remind Nebraska taxpayers that they are now able to deduct up to $10,000 a year when figuring state income taxes for contributions to a NEST account.
The tutorial was developed by the educational technology company EverFi, Inc., of Washington, D.C., and is sponsored in Nebraska by the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust, a division of the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office. Stenberg is Trustee of NEST, and First National Bank of Omaha is program manager.
For more information about how to set up a NEST account or how to increase contributions to an existing account, Treasurer Stenberg recommends contacting Rachel Biar at rachel.biar@nebraska.gov or at 402-471-1088. Prospective account owners can also find information at www.NEST529.com.
