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Tax Tip 2008-52 2007 Tax Year / 2008 Filing Season

Deduction for Educator Expenses

This is archived information that pertains only to the 2007 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.

If you are an eligible educator, you may be able to deduct up to $250 of expenses you paid for purchases of books and classroom supplies. These out-of-pocket expenses may lower your 2007 tax bill even if you don’t itemize your deductions.

  • Eligible Educator: The deduction is available if you are an eligible educator in a public or private elementary or secondary school. To be eligible, you must work at least 900 hours during a school year as a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide.
  • Qualifying Expenses: You may subtract up to $250 of qualified expenses when figuring your adjusted gross income. Qualified expenses are unreimbursed expenses you paid or incurred for books, supplies, equipment (including computer equipment, software and services) and other materials that you use in the classroom. Supply expenses for courses in health and physical education are qualified only if they are related to athletics.

To be deductible, the qualified expenses must be more than the savings bond interest excluded on Form 8815, any nontaxable distribution from a qualified tuition program, and any tax-free withdrawals from your Coverdell Education savings account.

The deduction for educator expenses can only be claimed on Form 1040, line 23.

For more information about this topic, see IRS Publication 529, Miscellaneous Deductions. The publication can be downloaded at IRS.gov or ordered by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Remember that for the genuine IRS Web site be sure to use .gov.  Don't be confused by internet sites that end in .com, .net, .org or other designations instead of .gov. The address of the official IRS governmental Web site is www.irs.gov.

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