Early Tax questions--attn: Speech Pathologists/Teachers

[momonlongisland]

Hey, Trying to think ahead and wondering .... I'll be starting a job as a SLP, but doing alot of home visits as well as schools. Before I start with the IRS or tax consultants, can anyone advise just what I'll be able to deduct at tax time next year.......car/gas/supplies/equipment, etc...Thanks so much to all...

 

[katiebelle21]

Save your receipts--you can deduct up to $200 for supplies that you buy for your classroom. (FYI: It might be $250...I can't remember the exact number!)

 

[taylor3297]

It is $250 that you can deduct. Last year I spent over $2000 for my classroom but can only deduct the $250.

 

[golfgal]

If you don't get reimbursed for mileage or they reimburse at a lower rate then the federal government allows you should be able to deduct car expenses. Get a travel log from and office supply store and track your starting and ending mileage for every trip you take for work. Keep all over your receipts and then at the end of the year you can figure out if taking the actual expenses (repairs, mileage, gas, etc) or taking a percentage of use is better in your situation.

 

[momonlongisland]

thanks for the info so far. IF I get some kind of reimursement for gas mileage from my job, would I still be able to claim the deduction for gas too??

 

[golfgal]

thanks for the info so far. IF I get some kind of reimursement for gas mileage from my job, would I still be able to claim the deduction for gas too??

Only if the reimbursement is lower then what the gov't allows. I can't remember what the rate is but it is something like 48 cent/mile. If the school only reimburses 30 cents/mile then you could claim the extra 18 cents/mile on your taxes.

 

[momonlongisland]

Thanks....and the purchasing of supplies--staples, toys, books, puzzles, all educational material-- that sort of thing. Can that be deducted?

 

[torinsmom]

Actually, from what I understand, you do NOT need receipts for the $250. You just need to be a teacher. I guess the gov't has brains enough to know that every teacher spends more than that on their class!

Marsha

 

[Pigeon]

Actually, from what I understand, you do NOT need receipts for the $250. You just need to be a teacher. I guess the gov't has brains enough to know that every teacher spends more than that on their class!

It's just like the vast majority of things you claim on your income taxes. You don't need to have receipts to file, but if you are audited, you'll be expected to produce them.

 

[deva]

Thanks....and the purchasing of supplies--staples, toys, books, puzzles, all educational material-- that sort of thing. Can that be deducted?

Yes, don't forget about union dues, professional organizations, license fees, and work publications. Anything above the $250 is an unreimbursed employee expense, taken as a miscellaneous itemized deduction on Sch A. BUT, you need to itemize to claim them, you can only claim them to the extent they exceed 2% of AGI and you get no benefit if you are subject to AMT.

So sometimes not a lot of benefit for all those little receipts.