[StBernard] LA State Income Tax Deduction Beginning in 2009 Tax Year

[Westley Annis]

February 17, 2009

Dear Parents,

Below is the news release regarding the School Tuition Tax deduction for
Louisiana state income taxes beginning in January 2009.  You may visit the
Louisiana Department of revenue website www.revenue.louisiana.gov to find
this release. 

February 05, 2009

BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Revenue has received inquiries
concerning the school tuition tax break established by Act 8 of the Second
Extraordinary Session of the 2008 Louisiana Legislature. Many tax
practitioners and parents who are preparing their 2008 state income taxes
are asking about tax deductions that the Act provides for school tuition and
certain educational supplies and expenses.
However, the School Tuition & Expense Tax Deduction is not in effect for
expenses incurred during the 2008 tax year.
"According to the law, this tax deduction does not go into effect until the
2009 tax year," says Secretary of Revenue Cynthia Bridges. "The Act grants
an individual income tax deduction for tuition, fees, and certain
educational supplies and expenses paid on or after January 1, 2009. We
encourage taxpayers to keep all related receipts so they can claim the
deduction on their 2009 tax returns, which are due May 15, 2010."
The legislation created a deduction for private school tuition and fees,
including expenses for uniforms and supplies for private school students.
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.
Taxpayers will be allowed to deduct up to half of tuition and other costs up
to $5,000 per child. This means that for each student, the deduction allowed
will be 50 percent of the actual amount paid, or $5,000, whichever is less.
For example: If a taxpayer with two children enrolled in a private school
pays $12,000 for each child's tuition, the taxpayer can deduct 50 percent of
the $12,000 limited to $5,000 per student for a total deduction of $10,000
for both students. The eligible amount can be deducted from the parent's
state income tax when filing their 2009 tax returns, due May 15, 2010.
For more information, please contact:

Byron Henderson
Press Secretary
225.219.2156