Educator Expense Deduction | A Tax Deduction for Teachers
Information for Tax Year 2024
School is back in session! As a teacher, you may find yourself paying for classroom expenses out-of-pocket. If you do this, make sure to keep the receipts! The Educator Expense Deduction allows eligible educators to claim up to $300 for unreimbursed expenses related to the classroom.
Who is an eligible educator?
You are considered an eligible educator if:
You're a kindergarten through 12th-grade teacher, instructor, counselor, principal, or aide;
You worked at least 900 hours in a school year; and
You work at a school that provides elementary or secondary education as determined under state law.
Eligible educators do not include:
Homeschool teachers
Employees at a preschool, college, or graduate school
What are qualified expenses?
Qualified expenses are those you paid for yourself during the tax year including:
Books and supplies
Computer equipment (hardware, software, and services)
Supplementary classroom materials
Professional development courses relating to your job
You can't deduct expenses:
That have been reimbursed by your school
That are covered by a grant or other source
How much is the educator expense deduction?
The educator expenses deduction allows you to deduct up to $300. If both you and your spouse, married filing jointly, are educators, you can deduct a total of $600 on your tax return, but not more than $300 each.
If you're an eligible educator, make sure to receipts for qualified expenses so you can report them on your tax return. You will report the deduction amount on Schedule 1 of your Form 1040.
Disclaimer: This material is prepared for informational purposes only, and is not tax advice. Please speak with a tax professional or visit the additional resources below to see how this information may apply to you.
