Homeschool Tax Credit Proposed in New Jersey

If a proposed bill passes in the New Jersey legislature, homeschoolers in the Garden State may soon be eligible for a tax credit up to $1,000 per student.

Under proposed bill A4971, all AOP curriculum would be covered as qualified homeschool expenses. The bill clarifies homeschool expenses as educational textbooks, workbooks, teacher’s edition books, and computer software whose primary purpose is for teaching or self-learning.

“Parents and guardians who homeschool their children go to great lengths—and incur great costs—in order to provide a quality education to those in their care,” the official statement said that accompanies A4971. “The State, moreover, has an interest in supporting the development and access to educational opportunities for all children residing in the State, irrespective of the method by which they are educated.”

Taxpayers with an annual income over $150,000 would not be eligible. In addition, the maximum credit was set at $3,000.

“Regardless of where or how they are educated, all students in New Jersey deserve access to resources that will support their development and prepare them to compete in the global economy,” Angela McKnight, a democrat from Jersey City, said according to The Jersey Journal. “If parents decide that the home is the best learning environment for their children, a tax credit can help offset the cost of the many expensive yet fundamental educational resources they will need.”