Louisiana School Tuition and Expense Tax Deduction

The State of Louisiana enacted a tax deduction for private school tuition and expenses in the 2008 Legislature.  However, this deduction did not go into effect until January 1, 2009.  So this information only relates to the 2009 tax return. 

The deduction is for private school tuition and fees, including expenses for uniforms and supplies for private school students. However, parents of home school students will be allowed to deduct expenses for instructional materials. Parents of public school students will be allowed to deduct expenses for uniforms and supplies that are purchased from the school.

Parents can deduct up to half of the total costs up to $5,000 per child.

So all parents need to keep receipts and track the costs for 2009 for all education expenses.  A copy of the latest press release on this deduction is at the Louisiana Department of Revenue at the link below.

Louisiana School Tuition and Expense Tax Deduction - Press Release 2/5/2009

Comments

[Danny and Sylvia Roy]

Thanks for keeping us all updated. You are AWESOME!

[Julia]

If you are a Louisiana resident, but your children go to a private school in another state, is the tuition expense still deductible on the LA return?

[Chip]

Julia,

The law does not limit the deduction in any way to schools in the State of Louisiana. As long as the child is a dependent of the Louisiana taxpayer, the school location should be irrelevant.