The educator expense deduction allows teachers to deduct up to $250 for unreimbursed classroom expenses when filing taxes, with a maximum of $500 for married educator couples. This deduction applies to a range of expenses, including supplies, books, and computer equipment. Eligible educators include teachers, instructors, aides, counselors, and principals.

1. Educator Expense Deduction Helps
Educators Recoup Out-of-Pocket
Costs
By Daniel Krasnick

2. Introduction
• President of 1 on 1 Math Coaching, Daniel Krasnick also
leads as president of Taxes For Teachers PA. Leveraging
his past experience as the treasurer of the Bethlehem
Education Association, Daniel Krasnick handles financial
and investment reporting for educators and extends a
number of other tax services.
According to Forbes and a survey conducted by SheerID
and Agile Education Marketing, teachers spent an
average of $513 on classroom supplies, professional
development, and books during the 2013-2014 school
year. The out-of-pocket investment increased the
following year.

3. Educator Expense Deduction
• A significant portion of these costs can be recouped
when filing taxes. An educator may leverage the
Educator Expense Deduction to deduct up to $250
on any unreimbursed expenditures on supplies,
books, computer equipment, and supplementary
classroom materials. For educators teaching
physical education classes, material purchases
related to the field of athletics may also qualify.
Married couples, both of which are educators, filing
jointly may deduct up to $500, but not in excess of
$250 per person. Eligible educators include
teachers, instructors, aides, counselors, and
principals.