REP. REGINA BARR REMINDS PARENTS ABOUT BACK-TO-SCHOOL TAX BENEFITS
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN —With back-to-school shopping in full swing, Rep. Regina Barr, R-Inver Grove Heights is reminding Minnesota parents about tax benefits for their 2017 Minnesota tax return for many school supplies. Minnesota has both a credit and a subtraction for education expenses. The Department of Revenue has reminded families interested in claiming these tax benefits to save all receipts related to school supplies.
“With school starting back up soon, I wanted to make sure parents know about tax incentives that may allow them to keep more money in their pockets come tax season,” Rep. Barr said. “Please don’t hesitate to contact my office if you have questions about these tax benefits.”
Most school supplies qualify for the credit or subtraction, including writing utensils, textbooks, and musical instrument rentals. Common items that don’t qualify for the subtraction or credit include school lunches, uniforms, backpacks, and more. Parents are encouraged to check the Revenue website to determine which expenses qualify.
While the education subtraction is not subject to income limits, the credit is limited to households with incomes less than $37,500 for families with 1-2 children, $39,500 for families with 3 children, and adding $2,000 per child for families with 4 or more children. According to the Department of Revenue, more than 43,000 families took advantage of the education credit saving an average of $242. In all, nearly 200,000 families took advantage of the education subtraction.
Full details about the Education Subtraction and Credit can be found on the Department of Revenue’s website: http://www.revenue.state.mn.us. Rep. Barr encouraged constituents who have questions about the credit or subtraction to contact her office at rep.regina.barr@house.mn or by calling 651-296-4192.
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