How do I classify a donation of classroom supplies and classroom books? Which category is best? Started by using "Business equipment" but that doesn't seem quite right.

If you are not an educator it’s a charitable donation if you itemize. If you’re an educator post back. 

Classroom supplies are generally going to be classified as "Household Goods".  

 

@glgordonsmith 

I was an educator but I am no longer an educator.  The items are from my classroom when I was an educator.  It seems a bit like a grey area to me.

If you are no longer an educator, then this would not fall under the education expenses.  As mentioned above, you can use the value as a donation to charity if you itemize your return.

 

 Itemized expenses include mortgage interest, gambling losses up to winnings,  charitable contributions, state and local taxes up to $10,000, medical expenses in excess of 7.5% of your AGI and casualty and losses in excess of 10% of you AGI with the first $100 not counting towards the loss.  

 

Then your total itemized expenses would need to be greater than your standard deduction below in order to benefit from your expenses. 

 

The 2024 Standard Deductions are as follows:

• Married Filing Joint (MFJ)              $29,200
• Married Filing Separate (MFS)      $14,600
• Head of Household (HOH)             $21,900 
• Single                                                 $14,600                                

Blind or over 65 and MFJ or MFS add $1,550

Single or HOH if blind or over 65 add $1,950

 

 

Standard versus Itemized Deduction     

You would have to deduct the cost in the year you incurred it.