Better late than never. Several months ago, Arizona passed legislation that allows for a state income tax deduction for contributions to Arizona-sponsored 529 plans, starting in 2008. The downside is that it is capped at $750 for individual taxpayers, and $1500 for couples filing jointly. Generally, the amount that is deductible pretty much runs the gamut from no deduction to a maximum equal to the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income for the year. Arizona’s max falls at the low end of the spectrum, but it’s better than zero.

Important note: the deduction is subject to recapture in the event of a non-qualified distribution, which essentially means that the funds are not ultimately used for approved educational purposes.