The federal position: nothing, yet
There is no federal homeschool tax credit or deduction. Homeschool curriculum is not a qualified 529 expense (K–12 private school tuition is, up to $10,000 a year, but not homeschool materials). The Educator Expense Deduction is for employed teachers, not homeschooling parents. Bills to change each of these appear most sessions; none had passed as of September 2026. Everything below is state-level, and it changes quickly, so verify with the state before you plan around it.
State by state
Programs that put money in a homeschool family's hands, ranked roughly by value. Each state name links to its homeschool guide. Amounts are approximate for 2026–27; the state's own page is authoritative.
| State | Program | Worth | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Empowerment Scholarship Account (universal ESA) | About $7,000–$8,000 per student; more for disabilities | Apply through the Arizona Department of Education; spend via ClassWallet on curriculum, tutoring, classes and materials. ESA students are classified separately from affidavit homeschoolers. |
| Florida | Personalized Education Program (PEP) under the Family Empowerment Scholarship | About $8,000 per student | Apply through Step Up For Students; home education families keep their status. Funds cover curriculum, tutoring, services and some technology. Slots are capped; apply early. |
| Alabama | CHOOSE Act education savings account | About $2,000 per homeschooled student, up to $4,000 per family (private school students about $7,000) | Apply through the Alabama Department of Revenue's CHOOSE portal; eligibility phases in by income through 2027. |
| Texas | Texas Education Freedom Accounts (from 2026–27) | Homeschool accounts capped well below the private-school amount; check the Comptroller for the current figure | Apply through the Comptroller's program when the window opens; funds cover curriculum and approved expenses. |
| Oklahoma | Parental Choice Tax Credit (refundable) | $1,000 per homeschooled student per year | Claim on the Oklahoma income tax return with receipts for qualified expenses (curriculum, tutoring, materials). |
| Ohio | Home education tax credit (nonrefundable) | Up to $250 per year | Claim on the Ohio return for home education expenses; keep receipts. |
| Illinois | Education Expense Credit | 25% of qualified expenses over $250, up to $750 per family | Claim on the Illinois return; homeschool expenses qualify when the child is in a home school meeting state requirements. |
| Indiana | Private school / homeschool tax deduction | Up to $1,000 per child (a deduction, not a credit) | Claim on the Indiana return for education expenses including homeschool curriculum. |
| Louisiana | GATOR education savings accounts (from 2025–26) | Varies by phase and funding | Apply through the Louisiana Department of Education; home study eligibility depends on the program phase. |
| South Carolina | Education Scholarship Trust Fund | About $6,000 per eligible student | Apply through the Department of Education; homeschool expenses are eligible for qualifying families, subject to ongoing court rulings. |
| Georgia | Promise Scholarship (limited) | About $6,500 per student | Only for students zoned to low-performing schools; can fund home study expenses. Apply through the Georgia Education Savings Authority. |
| Missouri | MOScholars (expanded to some home school expenses) | Limited; varies | Apply through a participating educational assistance organization; eligibility is limited. |
| Indiana (disabilities) | Education Scholarship Account for students with disabilities | Varies | Apply through the Indiana Treasurer's office; can fund home-based education for eligible children. |
| North Carolina (disabilities) | Education Student Accounts | Varies | For students with disabilities; can cover some home school expenses. |
| Minnesota | K–12 Education Credit and Subtraction | Credit up to $1,500 per child (income-limited); subtraction up to $1,625–$2,500 | Claim on the Minnesota return; homeschool expenses for instructional materials qualify for the subtraction and, for lower incomes, the credit. |
| Iowa | Tuition and Textbook Credit | 25% of the first $2,000 of qualifying expenses per child | Claim on the Iowa return; independent private instruction and some homeschool expenses qualify. |
States with public “homeschool” funding that is really public school:California's charter independent-study programs ($2,500–$3,500+ per student in instructional funds), Washington's ALE parent-partnership programs, Oklahoma's Epic learning fund, and Alaska's correspondence-school allotments (often $3,000–$4,500) all fund enrolled students generously. In every case the child is legally a public school student with state testing. Many families take the deal; know what it is.
States with nothing for homeschoolers: most of the rest, including New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan (whose constitution forbids it), Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina (whose Opportunity Scholarship is private-school only). Several have private-school voucher or tax-credit scholarship programs that exclude home education; watch for expansions.
Four traps
- Status change. Arizona ESA and Florida PEP students are not statutory homeschoolers; the program has its own rules. Usually fine, but understand it before signing.
- Spending rules. ESA funds go through platforms like ClassWallet with approved categories and vendors. Religious curriculum is generally allowed in ESAs; it is not allowed with California charter funds.
- Deadlines and caps. Florida's PEP has capped slots; Alberta's funding needs notification accepted by 30 September. Miss the date, lose the year.
- Court challenges. South Carolina's and several other programs have been narrowed or paused by litigation. Do not spend money you have not received.
Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Ireland
Canada. Alberta pays about $928 per funded home education student in grades 1–12 for 2026–27 (half for kindergarten) through the supervising school authority, with notification by 30 September. British Columbia's enrolled distributed-learning option provides resources and an allowance; registered homeschoolers get none. Some Saskatchewan school divisions fund resources. Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces pay nothing.
New Zealand. Families with a Certificate of Exemption receive the supervision allowance: $796 a year for the first child, $677 for the second, $557 for the third and $398 for each further child, paid twice a year. See the New Zealand guide.
Australia. No direct homeschool funding in any state. Family Tax Benefit continues. Government distance education is free or low-cost as an alternative. See the Australia guide.
UK and Ireland. No home education allowance and no tax relief. Some UK councils fund exam entries for children with EHC plans. See the UK guide and the Ireland guide.
How to claim, and the records to keep
- Keep every receipt for curriculum, materials, tutoring, classes and subscriptions, with the child's name and the date. A folder per tax year.
- Log what each purchase was for. ESA platforms ask; tax credits need it if audited.
- Check the state's definition of qualified expenses before buying. Planning tools and curriculum generally qualify; furniture and general electronics often do not.
- Apply in the window. ESAs open and close; credits are claimed on the annual return. Put the dates on your year at a glance.
- Re-check each spring. This area changes every legislative session. Our state guides are reviewed regularly, but the state's page is the law.