FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: (202) 225-3625
September 6, 2002
No. FC 27-A
Congressman Bill Thomas (R-CA), Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that on Thursday, September 5, 2002, the Committee ordered favorably reported, H.R. 5193, the "Back to School Tax Relief Act of 2002," as amended, by a recorded vote of 22-14.
DESCRIPTION OF H.R. 5193 AS APPROVED:
The bill would allow families to claim an above-the-line deduction of up to $3,000 for qualified Kindergarten through 12th grade educational expenses at a public, private, religious, or home school. Qualified educational expenses would include tuition, fees, academic tutoring, special needs services, books, supplies, uniforms, transportation, and expenses for the purchase of computer technology and equipment. The deduction would be available to families with incomes of $20,000 or less ($40,000 or less for married couples). An above-the-line deduction for higher education exists under current law.