Homeschooling must not count for much in the gool ole USA. At least, not by the IRS.I was told, over the years, that expenses to educate my child at home can be taken off on taxes. We had help this year, and were adamantly told NO! That unless I'm a qualified teacher, then there's no way education is a legitimate expense. But the state I live in says a parent is considered a teacher and holding a school if they homeschool.
I'll look into this and will see what I can find out. Meanwhile... comments?
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According to the direct from the IRS info I've read, home educators do not qualify. Each year I've checked the statutes directly through them and it's still like that.
At first I was bummed - but then I started to agree with homeschoolers like the founders of Home Education Magazine who bring up the point: the more we (homeschoolers) get from Uncle Sam, the more beholden we may be and the more legislation the politicos will introduce at the federal level. Federal hs legislation is, to me, a bad thing; right now a person can still vote with their feet by moving to another state that better suits their lifestyle choices. Same goes for midwifery, gun laws and other such issues.
Just my thoughts/where I stand on it... I know some will disagree, of course, and I don't expect to sway them to my "side"... it's just how I've handled it. Rather like the joke going around that if a housewife would be worth so much according to the career studies, then the gov't ought to pay women to stay home..... but then, would I have to deal with them telling me how to clean my stove, when to vacuum, how many activities I have to enroll my kids in, etc... in order to get the funds? ;-)
PS Here is a link to this year's info about it:
http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc458.html
There is, technically, a way around this.... if you invest in a tuition program or a Coverdell Account.... you could use those monies to pay for homeschool expenses - and probably get a better deal anyway, since the educator option is a "deduction", not a credit.... if you don't have enough itemized deductions you may not be better off with that "up to $250" deduction anyway. It's only cash back in your pocket direct if it's a "credit"... deductions don't always add up for everyone ... for instance, we sold our home in 2007 so no longer itemize.... so that $250 would be zeroed out for my family anyway vs the standard deduction.
Hope that helps & makes sense! I'm not a CPA (yet) but I am a bit of a tax geek so I personally find it fascinating. lol
Thanks, Melonie. Good points. God knows I don't want to owe any more to the government than I already do! The very fact that homeschoolers have to report what they do, when, how and how much is absolutely tyrranical. Thanks again. Vikki
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