Teacher Tax Deduction for School Supplies Passes Congress

On October 3, President Bush signed HR 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 after it passed the House by a vote of 263-171. In addition to allowing the government to purchase mortgage assets from cash-strapped banks and guaranteeing money market investments, several other parts of the bill include items that directly affect education such as the 2-year extension of tax benefits relating to qualified tuition and expenses, out-of-pocket teacher expenses, Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZABs), computer contributions and donations of book inventories. Members of the NSSEA Legislative Committee met with their representatives in Congress to urge the continuation or expansion of this much-needed deduction for classroom expenses.

NSSEA supports expanding the educator tax deduction to give relief to the teachers and education support professionals who reach into their own pockets to ensure that classrooms have the necessary classroom supplies. Educators are spending more of their own funds each year to supply their classrooms with essential products such as markers, pencils, glue, scissors, and crayons. Making this deduction a permanent one on the federal tax form 1040 would give teachers more of an incentive to stay in their field.

Click here to see a sample of the letter sent to members of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee on behalf of NSSEA.

Click here to partner with the National Education Association (NEA) to show your support of the Teacher Tax Relief Act.

Member Resources:

Download these materials in support of the Teacher Tax Credit:

Bag stuffer/Newsletter Copy
Senate Letter Template
House Letter Template
Store/Cash Register Sign
NSSEA Press Relief from Hill Visits