It’s back to school season, and with that comes potential out-of-pockets costs for educators. The Educator Expense Deduction lets eligible teachers and administrators deduct certain expenses from their taxes.
Eligible educators
To qualify, you must be a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide and work at least 900 hours a school year in a school that provides elementary or secondary education as determined under state law.
About this deduction
If you qualify, you can deduct up to $300 of certain trade or business expenses that weren’t reimbursed by their employer, grant or other source. If two married educators are filing a joint return, the limit rises to $600. These taxpayers can’t deduct more than $300 each.
If you qualify, qualified expenses are amounts that you paid yourself during the tax year.
Some of the expenses an educator can deduct include:
- Professional development course fees
- Books and supplies
- Computer equipment, including related software and services
- Other equipment and materials used in the classroom
This article carries no official authority, and its contents should not be acted upon without professional advice. For more information about this topic, please contact our office.