California Teachers May Get $200 Tax Credit For Supplies

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SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - California teachers may get a tax break on the supplies they buy for their classrooms and students. However, that tax break only covers $200 for a calendar year.

Assemblymember Steven Choi introduced AB 348 on Monday. If passed it would go into effect on January 1, 2020 and cover public, charter, or private school teachers in grades K-12.

The tax credit would cover:

Books
Supplies
Computer Equipment
Supplementary Materials

Teachers would not be allowed to use the tax credit to cover items of a religious nature, or nonathletic supplies used in health or physical education courses.

According to the National Teacher and Principal Survey conducted in 2015-16, the average teacher spends $479 on school supplies each year. Elementary school teachers spent an average of $526 and high school teachers spent an average of $430.

44% - spent less than $250
36% - spent between $251 and $500
13% - spent between $501 and $1,000
7% spent more than $1,000

Asm. Choi said, "A $200 tax credit is a small recognition in California for the thought and care our educators invest in our children's future and the relief they deserve for investing their hard earned money for kids at school."