Affordable Youth Enrichment Opportunities Act

Tax break for parents' youth costs

You would be able to deduct up to $5,000 of youth-program spending for a dependent under age 19. The deduction would be available for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026. It would be disallowed if your modified adjusted gross income is above the limits: $200,000 for joint filers or surviving spouses, $150,000 for heads of household, and $100,000 for other filers. You could not claim the deduction if another taxpayer is allowed the section 151 deduction for the same dependent, or if the expense is already deductible under another tax rule. For taxable years after 2027, the $5,000 cap and the income limits would be adjusted for inflation using calendar year 2026 as the base and rounded down to the nearest $100. The Secretary, in consultation with the Education Secretary, would decide what other programs qualify.