Educator Expenses

Educator Expenses

An eligible educator can deduct qualified expenses as an adjustment to income on their tax return. The maximum amount they can deduct is as follows:

  • 2021 and prior: $250
  • 2022 and forward: $300

If spouses filing jointly are both eligible educators, their maximum is twice the individual maximum but neither can include more than the individual maximum.

Eligible Educator

A taxpayer is considered an eligible educator if the school is a kindergarten through grade 12 and:

  1. They are a teacher, instructor, counselor, principal, or aide, and
  2. They worked at least 900 hours in a public or private school that provides elementary or secondary education, as determined under state law.

Qualified expenses

Qualified expenses include expenses paid for:

  • Professional courses are taken related to the curriculum the taxpayer teaches. (These courses may qualify for utilizing the lifetime learning credit. See Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education.)
  • Books, supplies, equipment (including computer equipment, software, and services), and other materials used in the classroom.
  • COVID-19 protective items to stop the spread of the disease in the classroom, such as hand soap or sanitizer, disposable gloves, tape, air purifiers, and other items recommended by the CDC.

Qualified expenses don't include:

  • Expenses for homeschooling
  • Non-athletic supplies for courses in health or physical education

To enter educator expenses in Software, from the Federal Section select:

  • Deductions
  • Adjustments
  • Educator Expenses

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