Someone told me (who doesn't homeschool) that I could write off on my taxes money spent on homeschool (curriculum, field trips, ect) Is this true?? I've never heard this in all my 6 years of researching homeschooling...
I didn't think so. But I think we homeschoolers should push for this! LOL I mean, I'll still have to pay school taxes next year, but my school aged kids won't be using those resources, so why not a tax break? I think it's a GREAT idea! You can write off expenses if you run your own business, why not your own school?
It is always a trade off with the government: when you get something, you also give up something. We all pay taxes for public schools many of us will probably never use, but public school is a necessary default system for educating children. Although it would be the very last place I would want my child to be educated and I think the entire system needs to be seriously revamped, I am thankful that it is always an option if something in my life radically changed, as well as for children who would not be educated any other way. In a way it is an educational welfare system, so just because I am not receiving any welfare subsidy from the government does not mean that I get a a special credit on my taxes.
Even then, I would strongly advise against claiming items you bought for your personal homeschooling. In essence you are scamming the government claiming personal expenses in your business expenses. I would not want to be the one who was audited who did such a thing.
I agree. I run a daycare and do deduct things but its used for daycare. I will never deduct things especially used for homeschooling. There is a fine line though as There are things i use for both and my tax lady said go ahead and deduct it since it is used for daycare half or more than half the time. I just don't abuse it and over use the deduction courtesy.
I can see claiming a toy or something like construction paper that you are going to use in the daycare.. and your kids may use some too, but I agree there is a fine line and I wouldn't want to be the one to cross it.
I think some states have an itemization for teachers, I think in MO it used to be 250 a year they could take off, if they bought school related supplies with their own money. I don't for sure though the details. I do know alot of PS teachers do spend out of their own pocket for things. Thing is it is a itemization, many people don't itemize, so not sure if it would even help them. I don't know if a parent who homeschools counts as a 'teacher' or not.
That a job related deduction though, not a 'education' related deduction, they just happen to work in education. That's just the same as writing off a home office, or gas for travel required by your job, ect
In MN, we are able to claim up to a certain amount (I believe it is 250) per child per year. I don't know how it is exactly classified, but all I have to do is turn in my receipts. They have to be for non-religious curriculum, but sometimes math alone will make that limit. We've done it for the last three years without any problems. I also claimed deductions when I had the daycare, but only for big items (swingset, high chairs, etc).
Although I hate the fact that I cannot claim any expenses on taxes I really would hate for the government to change that. I believe that when we start being able to claim our expenses the government will try to become more involved and regulate more how we HS. Even with all I spend yearly on curriculum and supplies it is still less than I was spending when my kids went to PS. I feel that the money is a sacrifice that I make my kids and what I feel is best for them.
Here in my state you can't. You get 0 breaks. I called the IRS while I was filing. The guy went threw every last educational deduction and there was nothing.
I agree with this, the more we ask for from them the more they will want to control our Homeschooling. What I don't like is that I have to pay for my kids to go to a school they never attended just because i am in the district. That would be the onlything I would change.