Bill > A5887

Introduced Session

This bill would provide a non-refundable gross income tax credit for certain expenses associated with homeschooling a child or dependent for taxpayers with incomes of up to $260,000. The amount of the credit would be equal to the value of qualified homeschooling expenses incurred by the taxpayer, up to $2,500 per child or dependent. The taxpayer would be able to claim no more than $7,500 in total credit in a taxable year (i.e., three children or dependents). A taxpayer that homeschools a child or dependent with special needs would qualify for an additional $1,000 credit for the qualified homeschooling expenses for each child or dependent. A taxpayer who qualifies for the additional credit would be able to claim a total credit of $10,500 in a taxable year. For married couples who file separately, each person would be permitted to claim one-half of the credit otherwise allowable. Taxpayers who do not have minimum taxable income that is subject to the gross income tax may claim the credit using an application made available by the Director of the Division of Taxation. The bill defines "qualified homeschool expenses" to mean expenses for educational textbooks, workbooks, and teachers' edition books; computer software whose primary purpose is for teaching or self-learning; rental fees for educational curriculum; and membership fees for libraries and academic institutions and organizations. Qualified homeschool expenses would also include materials used to set up a home school, including but not limited to computers, desks, boards; consumable school supplies, including but not limited to pencils, pens, paper; and internet provider fees. Parents and guardians who homeschool their children go to great lengths--and incur great costs--in order to provide a quality education to those in their care. The State, moreover, has an interest in supporting the development and access to educational opportunities for all children residing in the State, irrespective of the method by which they are educated. This bill seeks to balance such interests by providing a gross income tax credit to cover the costs of many expensive yet fundamental educational resources, such as textbooks and educational software incurred by parents and guardians homeschooling their children and dependents.

AI Summary

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Gerry Scharfenberger (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee (on 12/14/2023)

Official Document