Legislative Update
January 24, 2008
Tax Relief for Homeschoolers! Calls Needed!
Several
parents called our office this week asking if they could claim a tax
deduction for their educational expenses. The IRS says "no" to
homeschoolers, but there are two bills that could say "yes" to Virginia
homeschoolers!
We learned this afternoon that two tax bills are scheduled to be heard in Finance Sub-Committee 3 at 7:30 tomorrow morning, Friday, January 25.
Five sub-committee members will determine the outcome of the tax relief
bills for this session, and they need to know how you want them to vote!
We
know this doesn't give you much time, and many, if not most of you,
will be unable to respond. We debated whether or not to send out this
notice knowing how frustrating a last-minute announcement can be. But
we are hoping you will understand the nature of the legislature, and
that at least some of you will be able to call or e-mail.
HB 420 will offer tax relief in the form of a $2,000 tax credit
for qualifying homeschool expenses such as money spent on textbooks,
workbooks, curricula, and other written materials used for academic
instruction. Tutoring fees charged by a teacher or correspondence
school are also included.
HB 1164
creates tax credits for businesses and individuals who contribute to
eligible foundations and scholarship funds. These funds can be
distributed to qualified students, including homeschoolers. For
individual taxpayers, the amount of the annual credit is 100 percent of
the contribution but may not exceed $800 for individual taxpayers and
$1,200 for married taxpayers filing jointly. The amount of the annual
credit for business entities is 90 percent of the contribution with no
limit on the dollar amount.
Call or e-mail the following members of House Finance Subcommittee 3 and ask them to vote "yes" for HB 420 and HB 1164:
Delegate Benjamin L. Cline, Chairman
e-mail: DelBCline@house.state.va.us
Delegate Robert Orrock
804-698-1054
e-mail: DelBOrrock@house.state.va.us
Delegate R. Lee Ware
804-698-1065
e-mail: DelLWare@house.state.va.us
Delegate Joseph P. Johnson
804-698-1004
e-mail: DelJJohnson@house.state.va.us
Delegate Harry R. Purkey
804-698-1082
e-mail: DelBPurkey@house.state.va.us
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NOTE FROM YVONNE:
I know time is short,
but if tax relief is important to you, please act as soon as you read
this e-mail! It's easy--call or e-mail each of the committee members
listed above. Tell them families with school-age children need tax
relief for educational expenses! Ask them to vote "yes" for HB 420 and
HB 1164!
Sincerely,
Yvonne Bunn, HEAV Director of Government Affairs
Home Educators Association of Virginia
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