Antony Barone Kolenc
Legally
Speaking
Income Tax
“Do’s and
Don’ts”
for Homeschoolers
It’s income tax season again in the United States, with the filing dead- line (Monday, April 15) fast ap- proaching. This is the time of year
when many families cross their fingers
and pray that the tax man will give them
a refund—or at least that he won’t collect
additional taxes and penalties. This tax
season remember four “Do’s and Don’ts”
to help maximize your family’s tax return
and avoid making costly filing errors:
1. Do Seek Out State Tax Breaks
for Homeschoolers
At the state and local level, homeschool-
ers pay taxes to support the public
schools, but few families that choose to
educate at home will ever receive any
benefit from those taxes. This reality has
caused an increasing number of states
to consider income tax credits or de-
ductions specifically for homeschooling
families. In 2012, Oregon, Virginia, and
West Virginia considered state-level tax
breaks. And though none of those efforts
bore fruit, they are evidence that the idea
is catching on.
2. Don’t Attempt to Deduct
Ineligible Expenses on Federal
Taxes
The Federal Government does not offer
any tax credits or deductions for expenses specifically associated with homeschooling your children. In fact, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) expressly
excludes homeschoolers from claiming
such expenses.
5 Republicans in Congress have discussed the possibility of a
tax break at the federal level,
6 but that is
not likely to happen any time soon—and
definitely not this tax season.
Some may be tempted to find “
creative” ways to claim their homeschooling
expenses. Don’t do it. For instance, although you may devote a portion of your
home to the “business” of home education, that does not make your schoolroom a “home office” under the tax code.
Homeschooling is not a business. While
families should take advantage of every tax loophole available, do not try to
stretch the regulations to cover expenses
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