ROSEMOUNT, Minn. (Sept. 9, 2026) — As students head back to the classroom, the cost of school supplies, extracurricular activities, and everyday family essentials can quickly add up. Fortunately, families can take advantage of Minnesota’s state tax credits and relief programs that are designed to ease the financial burden on school-age families.

With support from the Minnesota Department of Revenue, getting financial help can be simple. Here is how you can tap into valuable state tax savings and free resources this school year:

K-12 Education Subtraction and Credit

Minnesota provides two distinct programs, the K-12 Education Subtraction and the K-12 Education Credit, to help families offset out-of-pocket educational costs when filing Individual Income Tax.

Families must have paid qualifying educational expenses during the tax year for a child in kindergarten through grade 12 who attends public, private, charter, or home school. Qualifying expenses include:

• Required school supplies (notebooks, folders, pencils, pens, crayons, markers, etc.)

• Computer hardware and educational software

• Textbooks, instructional materials, and tutoring

• Music lessons, instrument rentals, driver’s education classes taken as part of a school program

The K-12 Education Subtraction has no income limit. Most Minnesota parents qualify to subtract eligible expenses from their taxable income, regardless of earnings. 

The K-12 Education Credit eligibility is based on a household's income. Families can check their eligibility for this refundable credit through the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s website.

To utilize these tax benefits, families must keep clear, detailed receipts, bills, cash register slips, and canceled checks for every purchase related to school supplies, materials, after-school programs, etc. 

Minnesota Child Tax Credit

Raising school-age children comes with year-round expenses. Minnesota’s Child Tax Credit provides additional direct financial support for eligible families. Families can receive up to $1,8000 per qualifying child, with no cap on the total number of children you can claim. You can receive the full credit amount as a refund even if you do not owe any state income tax. Families can learn more about the Child Tax Credit on the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s website.

Free Tax Preparation for Families

Families may qualify for free tax preparation from certified volunteers through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or AARP Tax-Aide programs. To learn more about eligibility and find free tax sites, families can visit Free Tax Preparation Sites.

Help Other Families Save

Parent Teacher Organization/Association (PTO/PTA) members, educators, and school leaders can help share this information with families by accessing free handouts, short videos, newsletter article templates, social media post templates and more on the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s Promotional Materials webpage. Information is available in multiple languages such as Spanish, Somali, Hmong and more.

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District 196 provides boundless opportunities and infinite possibilities for more than 29,000 students in early childhood, K-12 and adult education programs, as well as community education programs for lifelong learners of all ages. 

District 196 serves more than 163,000 residents in the cities of Rosemount, Apple Valley, Eagan, Burnsville, Coates, Empire, Inver Grove Heights, Lakeville and Vermillion Township in Dakota County, Minnesota.