From curriculum to tutoring and everything in between, the cost of homeschooling your family can add up to the thousands. Writing off homeschooling expenses on your taxes can be one way to make homeschooling more accessible. Homeschool families who plan ahead and use tax breaks can easily save hundreds! This article will show you how to maximize your homeschooling refund this tax season to focus on what matters most: learning, playing and exploring together with your kiddos.
This content is not tax or legal advice. Please seek guidance for your family’s unique situation from a qualified tax professional before making financial decisions.
Is Homeschooling Tax Deductible?
Currently, the federal government does not provide tax breaks for homeschooling. However, that shouldn’t discourage you. There are other tools available, like the Coverdell and 529 savings accounts. These allow you to put money into federally tax advantaged savings accounts. The 529 savings plan was recently expanded this year to allow families to save for K-12 expenses; before this was only for college expenses. There may be more progress soon at the federal level to more directly support homeschool families, so keep an eye out.
School choice policies that make homeschooling more affordable through tax breaks have been rapidly expanding at the state level. While there is no federal tax credit, several states offer programs to support homeschooling families.
Does My State Have A Homeschool Tax Credit?
Six states currently have tax credits for homeschoolers:
Other Ways to Save
There are many ways to reduce the cost of homeschooling. Check out our Navigating School Choice: Funding Your Homeschool Journey and The Homeschooler’s Guide To Understanding Your Education Savings Account blogs to learn more.
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Strategies for Maximizing Your Homeschool Tax Savings
Here are a few strategies to make the most of your tax savings:
Recent legislation has made a major change to 529 plans that will assist homeschoolers’ savings.
529 plans, which provide major tax benefits have historically only been available for college expenses. Effective July 2025, homeschool families can use these plans to pay for a wide variety of qualified homeschooling expenses like textbooks, tutors, and testing.
Families that do not enroll their student in a public school are allowed to contribute $2000 a year. These funds aren’t taxed if used on qualified private K-12 schools and higher education institutions on behalf of the students
For homeschooling families, the most important consideration is whether your state classifies homeschooling as a form of private education. Because laws vary widely, be sure to review your state’s specific guidelines and consult a financial or legal professional to ensure you are meeting both state and federal requirements.
To qualify for the child and dependent care credit, you must have paid someone to care for your child. The most applicable option for homeschoolers would be for summer camps. The other requirement is that you (and your spouse, if you have one). You must have paid for the care so that you could work. Learn more about requirements to see if it works for your family here.
Stay up-to-date on your state’s homeschool tax benefits and keep track of what you spend throughout the year. Homeschooling expenses that qualify one year may change the next, and new opportunities that weren’t available before may emerge.
This content is not tax or legal advice. Please seek guidance for your family’s unique situation from a qualified tax professional before making financial decisions.