Dallas City Wire

WASHINGTON - This week, Representatives Marc Veasey (TX-33) and Jake Ellzey (TX-06) introduced the Creating Opportunity for Athletic Coaches to Help Educate Students (COACHES) Act to extend the educator Expense Tax Deduction to K-12 athletic coaches and administrators. This bipartisan bill will amend the tax code to allow K-12 coaches to be classified as "eligible educators" in order to be eligible for tax deductions for out-of-pocket expenses relating to instructional expenses.

“Coaches and Athletic Administrators play a vital role in the development and education of students,” said Rep. Veasey. “As they continue to invest in our students, we should ensure they have the same benefits as their colleagues.”

"Growing up, many of us and our children rely on our coaches and athletic administrators," said Rep. Ellzey. "They are there to encourage us to do better. They teach us responsibility, accountability, and how to work as a team to achieve our goals. Many of them become lifelong role models. They are pivotal in the education of our children and should receive the same opportunities as their fellow educators."

"On behalf of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association membership, we applaud Rep. Veasey’s and Rep.Ellzey’s efforts to ensure all educators, including those who oversee school athletics, can take advantage of the tax credit created by Congress. As we all know, education-based sports play a major role in the lives of many students, and the benefits those students receive are numerous. Educational professionals who dedicate their time and personal resources to help maintain and improve athletics deserve the same treatment under the tax code as any other member of a school’s faculty. NIAAA is thankful that Rep. Veasey has taken up this important issue, and we urge Congress to pass his bill,” said the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

BACKGROUND

1. Under current law, only “eligible educators” are able to utilize the tax credit for out-of-pocket related instructional expenses.
2. “Eligible educator” means, with respect to any taxable year, an 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.
3. Athletic administrators and coaches would be considered eligible educators and receive these tax deductions as they also provide critical instruction to students and often pay for their expenses out of their own pockets.

Veasey and Ellzey co-lead the bipartisan Youth Sports Caucus that is committed to advancing youth development and healthy lifestyles through sports.

Original source can be found here.