SVVEA News
2008 Income Taxes
Association members can deduct the total of your unified dues (SVVEA-CEA-NEA) as a miscellaneous itemized deduction on your federal income taxes, but not as a charitable contribution. Your dues are one sum for January-August 2008 plus a different sum for September-December 2008, because the calendar year overlaps two Association membership years. Use your paycheck stub to determine the deduction amounts for your 2008 taxes.
NEA helped Association members get continued tax relief in the 110th Congress by getting an extension of the deduction for instructional materials and classrooms supplies which was set to expire at the end of 2008. Teachers and paraeducators can deduct up to $250 for out-of-pocket classroom expenses as the "educator expense deduction" if you worked at least 900 hours in 2008. Your qualified expenses are subtracted when figuring your adjusted gross income. You must file IRS Form 1040 to take the deduction (claim the $250 on line 23); it can not be claimed on Form 1040A.
For more information, go to the IRS Tax Topic #458, Educator Expense Deduction.