Educator Expenses(p138)

If you were an eligible educator in 2012, you can deduct on Form 1040, line 23, or Form 1040A, line 16, up to $250 of qualified expenses you paid in 2012. If you and your spouse are filing jointly and both of you were eligible educators, the maximum deduction is $500. However, neither spouse can deduct more than $250 of his or her qualified expenses on Form 1040, line 23, or Form 1040A, line 16. You may be able to deduct expenses that are more than the $250 (or $500) limit on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 21.

An eligible educator is a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, principal, or aide who worked in a school for at least 900 hours during a school year.

Qualified expenses include ordinary and necessary expenses paid in connection with books, supplies, equipment (including computer equipment, software, and services), and other materials used in the classroom. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your educational field. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your profession as an educator. An expense does not have to be required to be considered necessary.

Qualified expenses do not include expenses for home schooling or for nonathletic supplies for courses in health or physical education.

You must reduce your qualified expenses by the following amounts.

• Excludable U.S. series EE and I savings bond interest from Form 8815. See Figuring the Tax-Free Amount in chapter 10 of Publication 970.
• Nontaxable qualified tuition program earnings or distributions. See Figuring the Taxable Portion of a Distribution in chapter 8 of Publication 970.
• Nontaxable distribution of earnings from a Coverdell education savings account. See Figuring the Taxable Portion of a Distribution in chapter 7 of Publication 970.
• Any reimbursements you received for these expenses that were not reported to you in box 1 of your Form W-2.