as contributions to a qualified tuition program held by the employee or spouse of the employee if the contributions are made pursuant to a program which is described in subsection (c). (b) Maximum exclusion (1) In general The amount excluded from the gross income of an employee under this section for the taxable year shall not exceed $1,000. (2) Inflation adjustment (A) In general In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2018, the $1,000 amount contained in paragraph (1) shall be increased by an amount equal to— (i) such dollar amount, multiplied by (ii) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting calendar year 2017 for calendar year 1992 in subparagraph (B) thereof. (B) Rounding Any increase determined under subparagraph (A) shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $50. (c) Qualified tuition assistance program For purposes of this section, a qualified tuition assistance program is a separate written plan of an employer for the benefit of such employer's employees— (1) under which the employer makes matching contributions to qualified tuition programs of— (A) such employees, (B) their spouses, or (C) any individual with respect to whom such an employee or spouse— (i) is allowed a deduction under section 151, and (ii) has the power to authorize distributions and otherwise administer such individual's account under the qualified tuition program, and (2) which meets requirements similar to the requirements of paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) of section 127(b). (d) Definitions and special rules For purposes of this section— (1) Qualified tuition program The term qualified tuition program means a qualified tuition program as defined in section 529(b). (2) Employee and employer The terms employee and employer shall have the meaning given such terms by paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively, of section 127(c). (3) Applicable rules Rules similar to the rules of paragraphs (4), (5), (6),