January 18, 2007

  Pryce Seeks Permanency and
Increase for Teacher Tax Relief

Provision Allows Teachers to Deduct Out-of-Pocket and Professional Development Expenses

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Deborah Pryce (R-Columbus) announced today that she has again co-introduced legislation that will increase and make permanent a tax deduction she originally co-authored to benefit teachers.  The tax provision allows teachers to deduct the costs of classroom materials they purchase with their own money. 

“We all remember the teacher who went the extra mile to make learning fun, and who inspired us to learn and succeed,” said Pryce. “Unfortunately, due to many budget constraints facing local schools all across our nation, teachers routinely dig into their own pockets to create an environment that makes learning enjoyable.  Teachers shouldn’t go broke when trying to inspire their students.”

Each year, the average teacher spends a significant amount of money on non-reimbursed expenses like books, lesson materials, flash cards, and crayons.  While Congress extended Pryce’s original teacher tax provision last session, the deduction is set to expire on January 1, 2008.  

The bill cosponsored by Pryce will increase the deduction from $250 to $400, make it permanent, and allow costs incurred from teacher professional development to qualify as a deduction.  During the 109 th Congress, the National Education Association (NEA) identified a similar Pryce-backed bill (H.R. 2989) as one of its top legislative priorities for its membership.