Washington, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) today announced that the Texas teachers in classrooms across the state will again be able to deduct up to $250 off their federal tax bill for supplies they purchase for their classrooms. 

 

The deduction for teacher classroom expenses, often called the “Crayola Credit”, is a part of the Conference Report for H.R. 1308, the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004.  The conference report is expected to pass the House of Representatives today and the Senate is expected to pass the bill as soon as tomorrow, sending it directly to the President’s desk for his signature.

 

Brady, a long time teacher advocate who as a member of the Ways and Means Committee has sponsored the popular teacher tax deduction year after year said, “Our dedicated teachers give so much to our children and classrooms that I wish they didn’t have to reach into their own pockets to add supplies for their classrooms.  This measure provides a little relief to teachers by allowing teachers to deduct up to $250 in school supplies off their taxes each year.  This tax relief helps teachers afford school supplies such as books, supplies, equipment and supplemental materials used every day.”  His goal is to increase the deduction to $500, closer to the average expenses teachers pay for classroom supplies. 

 

Any educator meeting the following provisions qualifies for the $250 tax deduction:

 

ØAny K-12 teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aid for at least 900 hours during a school year is eligible.

 

ØTeachers in public, private or home schools all qualify as long as the school meets the state’s definition of a “school.”

 

ØOnly the first $250 of expenses can be claimed.

 

ØEligible expenses include books, supplies, computer equipment and supplementary materials used by the teacher in the classroom.  These expenses may be claimed as long as the school does not reimburse the teacher for the expenses.