If you are an eligible educator, you can deduct up to $300 ($600 if married filing joint and both spouses are educators, but not more than $300 each) of any unreimbursed expenses that you paid or incurred for books, supplies, computer equipment (including related software and services), other equipment, and supplementary materials that you use in the classroom. To enter education expenses in the TaxAct program, follow the steps below.
Note:
For courses in health and physical education, expenses for supplies are qualified expenses only if they are related to athletics. This deduction is for expenses paid or incurred during the tax year.
This deduction can be claimed by both itemizing and non-itemizing taxpayers.
You are an eligible educator if, for the tax year, you meet the following requirements:
You are a K-12 Teacher, Instructor, Counselor, Principal, or Aide, and
You work at least 900 hours a school year in a school that provides elementary or secondary education, as determined under state law. Qualified expenses are deductible only to the extent that the amount of such expenses exceeds the following amounts for the tax year:
The interest on qualified U.S. savings bonds that you excluded from income because you paid qualified higher education expenses,
Any distribution from a qualified tuition program that you excluded from income, or
Any tax-free withdrawals from your Coverdell Education Savings Account.
For additional information regarding personal credits and any alternative minimum tax (AMT), refer to IRS Publication 17.
Online
Dashboard
From within your TaxAct return, click Deductions & Credits.
On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make your selection.
Click the Employment Expenses drop-down.
Click Add beside Teacher (Educator) Expenses.
Complete the rest of the interview process.
Classic
From within your TaxAct return, click Federal.
On smaller devices, click the menu at the top left corner of your screen, then make your selection.
Click the Other adjustments drop-down, then click Educator expense deduction.
Complete the rest of the interview process.
Desktop
From within your TaxAct return, click Federal.
Click the Other adjustments drop-down, then click Educator expense deduction.
Complete the rest of the interview process.
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