The Internal Revenue Service is reminding educators that they can write off up to $300 in unreimbursed expenses for the classroom. While the amount is not considered a credit, it does allow teachers to reduce their taxable income, knocking a few dollars off their annual tax bill.
The IRS said the following items are among those teachers can claim:
- Books, supplies and other materials used in the classroom
- Equipment, including computer equipment, software and services
- COVID-19 protective items (hand sanitizer and disposable gloves)
- Professional development courses related to the curriculum they teach or the students they teach
Eligible educators include teachers, principals, aides and instructors who spend 900 hours a year in the classroom. While public and private school teachers are eligible, home school parents are not.
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"As with all deductions and credits, the IRS reminds educators to keep good records, including receipts, canceled checks and other documentation," the IRS said.
2023 marks the second year in a row the deduction is $300. The amount could go up in $50 increments in future years based on inflation.
But it seems for the average teacher, $300 would not be enough to cover most expenses.
According to a survey by My eLearning World, the average teacher spent $820 during the 2022-2023 school year on classroom supplies. The money spent on classrooms is split between consumable supplies such as pencils, decorations, books, software and other school necessities.
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