Home School Opportunities Make Education Sound Act of 2015

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax deduction for itemizers and nonitemizers for expenses relating to home schooling. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Home School Opportunities Make Education Sound Act of 2015 2. Itemizer deduction for home school education expenses (a) In general Part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 (1) by redesignating section 224 as section 225, and (2) by inserting after section 223 the following new section: 224. Home school education expenses (a) Allowance of deduction In the case of an individual, there shall be allowed as a deduction for the taxable year an amount equal to the qualified home school education expenses paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year on behalf of each qualifying child of the taxpayer. (b) Maximum deduction The deduction allowed by subsection (a) for the taxable year shall not exceed the lesser of— (1) $500 for any qualifying child of the taxpayer, and (2) $2,000 in the aggregate for all qualifying children of the taxpayer. (c) Definitions For purposes of this section— (1) Qualifying child The term qualifying child (2) Qualified home school education expenses (A) In general The term qualified home school education expenses (i) books, supplies, and other equipment necessary for a course of instruction in a classroom environment, (ii) academic tutoring, (iii) special needs services for qualifying children with disabilities (within the meaning of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990), and (iv) any computer technology or equipment (as defined in section 170(e)(6)(F)(i)) or Internet access and related services, if such technology, equipment, or services are to be used by the qualifying child and the qualifying child's family during any of the years that the qualifying child is educated in an elementary or secondary home school (not including computer equipment designed for sports, games, or hobbies unless such equipment is primarily educational in nature), in connection with a course of instruction in an elementary or secondary home school. (B) Elementary or secondary home school The term elementary or secondary home school (d) Special rules (1) Denial of double benefit Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), no deduction shall be allowed under subsection (a) for any expense for which a deduction or credit is allowed to the taxpayer under any other provision of this chapter. (2) Adjustment for Coverdell education savings account distributions and Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits The amount of qualified home school education expenses taken into account under subsection (a) with respect to a qualifying child for a taxable year shall be reduced by the sum of— (A) the amount of any credit allowed under section 25A with respect to such child for such taxable year, and (B) any amounts excludable under section 530(d)(2) for such taxable year by reason of the qualified elementary and secondary education expenses (as defined in section 530(b)(3)) of such child for such taxable year. (3) Adjustment for certain scholarships, etc Rules similar to the rules under section 25A(g)(2) shall apply for purposes of this section. (4) Identification requirement, limitation on taxable year of deduction, etc Rules similar to the rules under paragraphs (2), (4), and (5) of section 222(d) shall apply for purposes of this section. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for part VII of subchapter B of chapter 1 section 224 “224. Home school education expenses. 225. Cross reference. (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014. 3. Additional standard deduction for home school education expenses for nonitemizers (a) In general Section 63(c)(1) (1) by striking and (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E) and inserting , and (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (F) the home school education expenses deduction. . (b) Definition Section 63(c) (10) Home school education expenses deduction (A) In general For purposes of paragraph (1), the home school education expenses deduction is so much of the amount of the qualified home school education expenses paid by the taxpayer during the taxable year on behalf of each qualifying child of the taxpayer— (i) as does not exceed $500 with respect to each such qualifying child, and (ii) as does not exceed $2,000 in the aggregate with respect to all such qualifying children. (B) Qualifying child; qualified home school education expenses For purposes of subparagraph (A)— (i) the term qualifying child (ii) the term qualified home school education expenses (C) Special rules Rules similar to the rules of section 224(d) shall apply for purposes of this paragraph. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014.

Summary: Home School Opportunities Make Education Sound Act of 2015 Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow all taxpayers, including taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions, a tax deduction for expenses relating to the home schooling of their children at the elementary or secondary school level.