Playground · Resources for educators
My classroom tab
(You’d buy the markers anyway. Let’s at least count them.)
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Your school year
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Tax time
If you teach K–12, the federal tax return has a small thank-you built in: the educator expense deduction. You can subtract what you spent on your classroom from your income, up to a limit, whether or not you itemize.
Who qualifies
A kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, principal or aide who worked at least 900 hours during a school year in a school that provides elementary or secondary education.
What counts
- Books, supplies and other materials you use in the classroom.
- Equipment, including computer equipment, software and services.
- Professional development courses related to what you teach or the students you teach.
It doesn’t count anything you were paid back for (unless the reimbursement was included as wages on your W-2), home schooling costs, or non-athletic supplies for health or PE classes.
The limit
$300 per educator for tax year 2025, and $350 for tax year 2026. If you’re married filing jointly and you’re both eligible educators, up to $300 each for 2025 ($600 total) and $350 each for 2026 ($700 total). It goes on Schedule 1 (Form 1040), line 11.
New for 2026: the IRS says that, beginning with tax year 2026, an eligible educator may also be able to take an itemized deduction on Schedule A for qualifying expenses, after the Schedule 1 deduction. The rules for the two are slightly different, so if you itemize and spent more than the limit, keep every receipt and ask your tax preparer.
California
California doesn’t allow this deduction on your state return. The Franchise Tax Board’s instructions say California doesn’t conform to the federal rule, so the amount is added back on Schedule CA (540).
General information, not tax advice.
This page doesn’t know your situation. Keep your receipts — this list is a helpful summary, not proof of a purchase. Checked on IRS.gov and FTB.ca.gov on October 11, 2026.
Sources: IRS Topic no. 458, Educator expense deduction; 2025 Instructions for Form 1040 (Schedule 1, line 11); Rev. Proc. 2025-32, section 3.12 (the 2026 limit); 2026 Form 1040-ES (the new itemized deduction); FTB 2025 Instructions for Schedule CA (540), line 11.
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How this works
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The school year runs July 1 to June 30. The tax year is the calendar year, so one school year’s spending lands on two tax returns; the tax section above adds up the right months for you.
The “that’s about” line uses round, everyday prices — a $1 glue stick, a $6 latte, a $12 box of dry-erase markers, an $18 picture book, a $60 tank of gas, a $250 rug. They’re rough on purpose, not quotes.
General information only. Sure Step Education is not a tax preparer, and nothing on this page is tax, legal or financial advice. Deduction rules and limits change; check IRS.gov or ask a tax professional before you file.
Sure Step Education is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Internal Revenue Service or the California Franchise Tax Board.