Issue Description

Education tax credits reduce the amount of tax a taxpayer owes, based on school-related expenses. For example: if $4,000 is owed in taxes, and a homeschool parent has spent $500 on educational expenses, that parent can use their educational expenses to reduce the amount owed in taxes to $3,500. Tax credits are not vouchers.

Issue Background

HSLDA supports tax credits as long as the language establishing the tax credit does not create additional burdens for homeschooling parents. Unlike vouchers, tax credits allow homeschooling parents to use their educational expenses to lower the amount of taxes owed. Vouchers, on the other hand, are government education grants given to parents. HSLDA believes 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 can be accomplished with an educational tax credit.

Education Tax Credits — A State-by-State Analysis 11/11/2008
	Lawmakers at both the state and federal level have proposed varying forms of education tax credits and education tax deductions. They are designed to reimburse parents, at least partially, for tuition and other expenses for homeschooling and private education.

Why Are Educational Tax Credits Important? 10/18/2006
	Many homeschool and private school parents understandably feel they are being double-taxed. Some conservative leaders have offered government vouchers as a solution to this problem. As an alternative, HSLDA recommends another vehicle: educational tax credits.