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IRS says educators may deduct cost of personal protective equipment

By Sally P. Schreiber, J.D.

Please note: This item is from our archives and was published in 2021. It is provided for historical reference. The content may be out of date and links may no longer function.

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The IRS provided a safe harbor under which “eligible educators” can deduct unreimbursed expenses for COVID-19 protective items as educator expenses under Sec. 62(a)(2)(D) (Rev. Proc. 2021-15). COVID-19 protective items include, but are not limited to:

  • Face masks;
  • Disinfectant for use against COVID-19;
  • Hand soap;
  • Hand sanitizer;
  • Disposable gloves;
  • Tape, paint, or chalk to guide social distancing;
  • Physical barriers (e.g., clear plexiglass);
  • Air purifiers; and
  • Other items recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be used for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.

Sec. 62(a)(2)(D) allows eligible educators an above-the-line deduction of up to $250 of qualifying expenses per year ($500 if married filing jointly and both spouses are eligible educators, but only $250 each). Under Sec. 62(d)(1)(A), an “eligible educator” is any individual who is a kindergarten through grade 12 teacher, instructor, counselor, principal, or aide in a school for at least 900 hours during a school year. For these purposes, a school is any school that provides elementary or secondary education under state law (Sec. 62(d)(1)(B)).

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, P.L. 116-260, required the IRS to clarify that unreimbursed expenses paid or incurred after March 12, 2020, by eligible educators for protective items to stop the spread of COVID-19 are expenses described in Sec. 62(a)(2)(D)(ii) that qualify for the educator expense deduction.