Taxes for teachers

[ladykemma2]

Yep, but the expenses I have are as follows....

Over $250 in classroom expenses. ( Direct Quote from my dept head: "but dear, they can order books, your classes are not on the priority list", and "yes, this is the 15th practice standardized test this year, so there are no more pencils or lined paper available, please give the text tomorrow." etc, etc. I have receipts.
Payments to my mentor I am going to try to to include the $450 I paid in December, but didn't deduct last year. Can I count when the check cleared?? But definately the $550 I paid in June.
Alternate Route classes $1200. All paid between Jan 2008 and June 2008

I'd like to deduct for the years I lost off my life dealing with the staff and admin...but I am sure there is no line for that....

yeah i also spent 1600 last year in my classroom. same issues.

[kita]

Wow, my mouth is hanging open - paying for mentors? What about the other teachers sharing supplies? PTA support? Strange how each school, district and state is different.

Good luck in finding out more info. We have a business that we run from home which helps. This year I got my out of pocket school spending down from four figures down to under $300.

The other teachers got large chunks of supplies early in the year. And then hid them. I knew that one tenured teacher had a case of copy paper stashed in his locked office. He would then request copy paper as he needed it, reserving the case for lean times in the spring. His own pantry stash.

While not having a classroom was a deficit when it came to a pantry supply of paper, it did mean that I didn't buy any bulletin board materials, general decorations, etc. I only have about $400 in receipts. What I bought in the beginning of the school year didn't qualify because I didn't fulfill the 900 hours as a teacher rule.

I just realized. I could have claimed them as general business expenses. I just need the receipts. Hmmm. Maybe I should be filing an amended 2007. Even a $75 credit would help. I've moved so it might be a bit of doing to get reciepts, but still.....

My school was very inner-city. Parents were rarely visable at the best of times. PTA? Teachers were encouraged to join (at a cost), I just didn't have the money at the time. Teachers were very negative, Admin was very controlling and negative. I didn't have a good year.

I'm switching to elementary so I can have my "own" classroom. I took the licensing exam two weeks ago. Hopefully, I passed.