Community Corner
Going Back to School Shopping? Save Your Receipts!
Minnesota has two tax programs that offset the cost of school supplies.
Parents and guardians shopping for back-to-school supplies should be sure to save their receipts.
Minnesota has two programs to offset the cost of school supplies. For both programs, parents or guardians must have a “qualifying child” who is attending kindergarten through 12th grade at a public, private or a qualified home school. Parents or guardians also must have paid “qualified education expenses.”
According to the Minnesota Department of Revenue:
Find out what's happening in Northfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“Generally, most expenses paid for educational instruction or materials qualify, including paper, pens and notebooks; textbooks; rental or purchases of educational equipment such as musical instruments; computer hardware and educational software; after-school tutoring and educational summer camps.”
“The list of required school supplies continues to grow each year,” a news release quoted Revenue Commissioner Myron Frans. “These supplies are a necessary part of school and saving your receipts now will save you money later.”
Find out what's happening in Northfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The K-12 Education Subtraction provides a tax break of up to $1,625 for each qualifying child in grades K-6 and $2,500 for each qualifying child in grades 7-12. The child must attend a school in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota or Wisconsin. Parents can also claim tuition paid for private schools and/or college courses used to satisfy high school graduation requirements. There are no income limits to qualify for the education subtraction
The K-12 Education Credit, which does have income limits, pays up to 75 percent of paid qualifying expenses. The income limits are:
1-2 children: $37,500
3 children: $39,500
4 children: $41,500
5 children: $43,500
6 children: $45,500
7 children: $47,500
8 or more children: Add $2,000 for each additional child
Visit the agency’s website for information on how to file and other details.
Here is a list of back-to-school coverage on Patch:
• Time to Purchase Back-To-School Supplies
• Back-to-School Open Houses, Assessments, Activities Planned
• Northfield High Football Team Opens Season on Aug. 30
• Is Your Family Ready for School to Start?
• UPDATE: Northfield Students to Get iPads Beginning Aug. 15