TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR EDUCATION SUPPLIES

WHEREAS, public education at all levels has been woefully underfunded for decades; and

WHEREAS, employees in education frequently purchase materials to use for the performance of their jobs, whether it be for classroom, office or other direct uses; and

WHEREAS, K-12 educators are only able to use $250 of these expenses as tax deductions; and

WHEREAS, employees in higher education and employees in K-12 education who are not teachers, instructors, counselors, principals or aides are not able to claim any expenses for tax deductions; and

WHEREAS, businesses are able to use expenses as large as private jets as tax deductions:

RESOLVED, that the AFT will work to change federal tax policy to allow higher education workers and non-classroom preK-12 education workers to use as a tax deduction money spent on materials for the performance of their jobs; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT will work to increase the allowable deduction for all employees in education far above the current limit.

Adopted May 28, 2025