If I want to claim educator expenses do I need to have a receipt of the school supplies that I bought?

It is always a good idea to keep your receipts. However, it is not necessary to have them to enter the amount on your return if you know for a fact  you paid it. In the unlikely event you are audited, you would need them.

As stated by leeloo, it is always a good idea to have backup documentation for deductions you are claiming as part of your tax return.  

As you may know, you are allowed to claim up to $300 in unreimbursed expenses for books, supplies, and equipment used in the classroom.  

To go to the section of the tax return to enter this information, use these steps:

• On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner) 
• This opens a box where you can type in “educator expenses deduction” (be sure to enter exactly as shown here) and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)
• The search results will give you an option to “Jump to educator expenses deduction”
• Click on the blue “Jump to educator expenses deduction” link and enter your information

@frank47sb