Senate Bill 2780: Raises the Maximum Tax Credit

Sponsor:
Senator Dan Cronin

Summary:
Amends the Illinois Income Tax Act. Increases the maximum amount of the education expense credit from $500 to $1,000.

Status:

01/20/2006

(Senate) Filed—First reading—Referred to Rules Committee

Action Requested:
No action is requested at this time.

HSLDA's Position:
Support.

Background:
Homeschoolers currently pay for the public education system while they privately educate their own children. This "double taxation" is unfair. While almost all homeschoolers would like to be free of the tax burden of public schools they do not use themselves, a significant number of homeschool leaders are concerned about any effort to get benefits from the government. Most homeschool leaders agree that vouchers (direct payments from the government to private or homeschools) are unacceptable because of the controls and loss of freedom that comes with the money.

As an alternative, HSLDA recommends another vehicle: educational tax credits. Parents and individuals who provide for a child's education should be allowed to keep some of their tax money that would otherwise have been used to fund public education. This goal could be accomplished through a tax credit.

The courts have ruled the Illinois tax credit is NOT government money.

Education tax credits offer several benefits:

• Educational tax credits will give parents true choice in education. This tax credit will help reduce the "double tax burden" on parents who choose private or home education.

• Education tax credits will benefit public schools. By encouraging students to attend private schools or homeschools, the tuition tax credit will reduce overcrowded public school class sizes and the student-to-teacher ratio, making more teachers available to public school students.

Other Resources

Feb.-3-2006—Illinois—Calls Needed To Support Raising the Educational Tax Credit to $1000

Bill Text

Bill History

Printer Friendly Version