FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Individual Tax Credit - FAQ

In Arizona, individuals can receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for supporting School Tuition Organizations (STOs) that provide financial aid to K-12 students attending private schools in the state. For example, in 2023, individuals can claim up to $652 and married couples can claim up to $1,301 in "Switcher" credits, but only after contributing the maximum credit amount allowed for the "Original" Individual Income Tax Credit ($655 for individuals, $1,308 for joint filers in 2023).

  •  For more information about the Tuition Tax Credit Law please visit HERE.

HOW MUCH CAN I CONTRIBUTE?

You can contribute up to the combined maximum of the Original ARS 43-1089 and the Switcher ARS 43-1089.03, or your actual Arizona tax liability, whichever is less, and receive a dollar-for-dollar Arizona state tax credit. If you have no liability, you cannot receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. For tax filing purposes, the total amount is broken down into two (2) categories: (Individual Original & Individual Switcher tax credit).

HOW TO CONTRIBUTE:

Step 1: Identity how much is your Arizona state tax. (If you receive a W2, check your last Pay-stub or your W2 slip for the amount of your State taxes)

Step 2: Fill out the online or printable Individual donor form.

Step 3: See chart above for total tax credit allowed for each year. Please note for tax filing purposes, the total amount is broken down into two (2) categories: (Individual Original & Individual Switcher tax credit) which will be shown on your official tax receipt

If your income tax is above the maximum amount allowed for filing jointly or filing singly, then do the following:

  • Select the dollar amount for your filing status (married/jointly or single) on the contribution form.

If your income tax is less than the maximum amount allowed for filing jointly or filing singly, then do the following:

  • Select "Other Amount" on the contribution form and type the total amount of your tax credit contribution, ONLY.

Step 4: List your recommended student(s)/ school (optional) and complete your payment.

Step 5: Once STO4KIDZ receives your payment, we will email or mail you an official receipt with instructions on how to claim your tax credit and the tax forms to use when filing your state taxes.

STO4KIDZ accepts contributions throughout the year. Contributions must be made prior to filing your taxes but no later than April 15.

When filing your PERSONAL taxes, you can claim the tax credit by using Arizona forms 301 and 323 along with state income tax forms.  However, if you contribute to the Switcher program as well, you need to file a 348 form.  Using AZ Schedule A to claim the federal deduction is optional (Must consult your tax advisor).

 

All these forms and more can also be found at AZDOR.GOV.

Yes! You may recommend anyone who is not your child or dependent. STO4KIDZ selection committee retains discretion regarding all awards. If you have no student preference, you have the option to recommend a private school of your choice. Your tax contribution will then be considered for students attending that school who have completed applications with STO4KIDZ, or you may contribute to STO4KIDZ general funds to be awarded to any qualified student at a private school. The law prohibits parents from swapping tax credit to benefit either taxpayer’s own dependent.

A minimum 90% of your contribution is used for scholarship award on a monthly basis.

Yes.  STO4KIDZ is a tax-exempt charitable organization pursuant to federal law, Section 501(c)(3). Federal I.D. Number 82-4886421

An official tax receipt will be emailed to your provided email address.  If you need a receipt immediately, please contact us at INFO@STO4KIDZ.ORG. We will gladly accommodate your request.

Thank you.

STO4KIDZ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable organization. You should consult your tax advisor for your specific tax question.
 
We sincerely welcome and appreciate your support and participation in this most worthwhile program at no out-of-pocket cost to you.

Corporate Tax Credit - FAQ

Invest in children at NO NET COST to you or your company! 

The state of Arizona allows eligible businesses to allocate their tax liabilities and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for up to 100% of their Arizona state tax liabilities.  Simply redirect money that you would otherwise be paying in state income taxes and provide scholarships for Arizona K-12 students with verified finical needs.  This is not a donation but a dollar-for-dollar tax credit.

This is truly a Win-Win for you and Arizona students. To participate, the company does not have to be based in Arizona, provided it pays Arizona tax liability.   HERE, you can submit your application.

 

Corporate Tax Credit History & Facts: (A.R.S.§20-224.06 and § 43-1183)

In 2006 and then in 2008, the Arizona State Legislature passed into law “The Corporate Income Tax Credit” and then the Disabled/Displaced Corporate Income Tax Credit, allowing businesses with an Arizona tax liability to allocate up to 100% of their tax liability and make a contribution to a qualified School Tuition Organization such as STO4KIDZ, and receive a dollar-for-dollar Tax Credit, may also qualify to claim that amount on their federal taxes as a donation. 

 

Who Can Participate:

  • C- Corporations
  • S- Corporations and LLC’s filing as an S-Corporation
  • Insurance Companies that pay premium taxes in Arizona

The company does not have to be based in Arizona, provided it pays Arizona tax liability.  

 

Who Will Benefit From The Corporate Tax Credit:

  •  K-12 students with a demonstrated financial need
  • Preschool–12 students with disabilities
  • Kindergarten students with demonstrated financial need
  • Foster students
  • US Armed Forces dependent
  • Students transferring from a public or charter school with demonstrated financial need
  • Students previously received Corporate or Switcher scholarships with demonstrated financial need

 

How To Proceed:

First:

1) Determine your business tax liability for the current year. You can allocate the total corporate tax liability amount.

2) Complete and submit your application by visiting STO4KIDZ.ORG  or call for assistance at 480.823.8052.

Then:

1) STO4KIDZ will submit a Tax Credit Contribution Approval Request to the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) on behalf of your company. (Applications must be submitted by an STO)

2) The request will be approved if the state cap has not yet been met. If the cap has been met, ADOR will create a waitlist based on the order in which the requests are received.

3)  STO4KIDZ will notify you the same day ADOR informs us of the approval. Corporation has 20 calendar days to fund STO4KIDZ in order to keep the tax credit.

4) Once STO4KIDZ receives the contribution funds ADOR will be notified and STO4KIDZ will provide the company with a receipt to claim the tax credit.

5) When filing the company’s taxes, you will take the corporate income tax credit on the Standard 120 Form and file a 335 Form, listing the credit amount.                                           

6)   STO4KIDZ awards tuition scholarships to qualifying students.

Here, is the Fact-Sheet and the Tax Credit Law

  • We are impacting our communities (Read more here)
  • Immediate reduction in your corporate income taxes
  • No out-of-pocket cost to you or your corporation.
  • Can allocate up to 100% of your corporate state income tax liabilities.
  • Receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit.
  • You may also qualify to claim your contribution on your federal taxes as a donation to STO4KIDZ, a 501c3 non-profit charitable organization.
  • You benefit and aid K-12 students and schools in Arizona.
  • Boost your community image as a corporate “good citizen”.
  • Provide need-base financial aid to eligible K-12 Arizona private school students, and impact their future, today.
  • STO4KIDZ in turn awards a minimum 90% of every dollar in tuition financial aid to eligible AZ private school students with verified financial needs within the same school calendar year.

(Please consult your tax advisor) http://www.azdor.gov/TaxCredits/CorporateTuitionTaxCredits.

  • C-Corporations
  • S-Corporations & LLCs that file as an S-Corp
  • Insurance Companies that pay premium taxes in Arizona

 

C-Corporations can allocate up to 100% of their state income tax liabilities for the given tax year as long as it does not exceed the statewide cap for the year. Credit can be carried forward for up to 5 years.

 

S-Corporations, (as defined in section 1361 of the Internal Revenue Code) can either claim the credit against income taxes at the corporate level (income tax reported on an Arizona 120S corporate income tax return) or it may make an irrevocable election to pass the credit through to its individual shareholders.  The S-Corp must make a minimum aggregate contribution of $5,000 within their taxable year in order to pass the credit through to its shareholders and may allocate up to 100% of their state income tax liability for the given tax year, receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit; then pass the credit on to its shareholders proportionately. If a corporation allocates more than their tax liability, it can be carried forward for up to 5 years. The contribution must be made by the S-corp, not a shareholder, in order to be eligible for the corporate tax credit. Each individual shareholder may claim only a pro-rata share of the credit based on the individual’s ownership interest in the S-corp. (A.R.S. § 43-1089.04).

 

LLCs that are taxed as S-corporations for federal and state purposes are eligible to contribute for tax credit.

 

Insurance companies that pay Arizona state tax liability on their premium income can allocate up to 100% of their premium tax liabilities.

  • A credit is allowed against the premium tax liability incurred by an insurer pursuant to section 20-224, 20-837, 20-1010, 20-1060, or 20-1097.07 for the amount of voluntary cash contributions made by the insurer during the tax year to a school tuition organization.
  • The amount of the credit is the total amount of the insurer’s contributions for the tax year under subsection A of this section that is pre-approved by the department of revenue pursuant to section 43-1183, subsection D.

 

(Use tax form 335 to claim your credit)

No. Corporations can only claim their contribution in the tax year in which the contribution is made (plus, five years for carry forward purposes). The law allows your corporation to allocate your tax liability to a School Tuition Organization (STO) such as STO4KIDZ, designating a private school, not a specific student. However, if there are not enough eligible students at your designated school, the money will be awarded among eligible students attending other qualifying private schools in Arizona.

  • K-12 Students with a demonstrated financial need
  • Pre-K–12 Students with Disabilities
  • Kindergarten Students with a demonstrated financial need
  • US Armed Forces Dependents
  • Foster Children
  • Students Transferring from a Public or Charter School with a demonstrated financial need
  • Previous Corporate or Switcher Scholarship Recipients with a demonstrated financial need

Arizona Corporate Tax Credit Forms and Instructions:

When filing your CORPORATE taxes, you can claim your tax credit by using the Arizona tax form 335 or 355i. These forms and more can be found at AZDOR.GOV

FACT-SHEET (an overview of the Corporate Tuition Tax Credit program)

STO4KIDZ awards a minimum of ninety percent of every contribution in scholarships to eligible Arizona K-12 students twice a year, at the beginning of each semester.

We sincerely welcome and appreciate your support and participation in this most worthwhile program.

First:

  1. Determine your business tax liability for the current year. You can allocate the total corporate tax liability amount. To participate, the company does not have to be based in Arizona, provided it pays Arizona tax liability.

  2. Complete and submit your non-binding contribution pledge form Online , or call Miriam at 480.823.8052 for assistance.

     

Then:

  1. STO4KIDZ will submit a Tax Credit Contribution Approval Request on behalf of your company to the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR).

  2. The request will be approved if the state cap has not yet been met. If the cap has been met, ADOR will  create a waitlist based on the order the requests are received.

  3. STO4KIDZ will notify you the same day ADOR inform us of the approval. Corporation has 20 calendar days to fund STO4KIDZ in order to keep the tax credit.

  4. Once STO4KIDZ receives the contribution funds ADOR will be notified and STO4KIDZ will provide the company a receipt to claim the tax credit.

  5. When filing the company’s taxes, you will take the corporate income tax credit on the Standard 120 Form and file a 335 Form, listing the credit amount (335-S / Instruction or 335/ Instruction.)

  6. STO4KIDZ awards tuition scholarships to qualifying students.

 

If you have questions, please contact Miriam Antolik at 480.823.8052  -  602.698.8855 OR  Email us.             

 

We sincerely welcome and appreciate your support and participation in this most worthwhile program at no out-of-pocket cost to you.

Student Application - FAQ

STO4KIDZ is a School Tuition Organization (STO) which falls under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We are also certified by the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) and is in compliance with the Private School Tuition Tax Credit Requirements. 

 

We provide tuition financial aid and scholarships to qualified Arizona private school students by utilizing the Arizona tuition tax credit contributions made by generous Individuals and Corporations who would like to redirect their state tax liabilities towards private education and invest in future leaders to positively impact their communities.

 

Every K-12 student can be recommended by individual donors. Corporations have the option to recommend one or more private schools.

 

A Minimum 90% of every dollar is awarded in form of tuition aid and scholarships.

 

Please visit our About Us. or call us at 602.698.8855. We would love to hear from you.

 

 

Please visit our Applicants Home Page for detail.

 

Online Application can be submitted ONLY between April 15th - June 1st, OR November 1st - December 1st each year.
Incomplete application will not be reviewed for tuition aid award.

  • One application per student, per school year only.
  • Do not submit multiple applications for the same student.
  • Each application is reviewed for eligibility for ALL four award types available (Individual Original, Switcher, Corporate Low Income, and Corporate Disabled/Displaced.)

** NOTE: Applications must be renewed and submitted each year (between April 15th -June 1st OR November 1st - December 1st)

 

REQUIRED Documents for those who DO file taxes:

  • The first two pages of the previous year’s Federal Tax Return Form (see example 1040 pages 1 and 2).
    (e.g. If you are applying for the 2023/24 school year, upload your 2022 tax document)
  • If self-employed, ALSO upload Schedule C (sample), and Schedule E (sample). 
    (uploaded form must not require a password to view)
  • If you filed an extension, please include a copy of your IRS extension paperwork. You will have until October 15 to email your taxes to Info@sto4kidz.org. (Your student's application is considered incomplete until then)
  • If your student is NEW to Private School, or has attended an Arizona private school in the prior year.  MUST ALSO upload the applicable supporting document to be eligible for the Switcher and/or Corporate tuition awards (View potentially needed documents listed here)

 

ALTERNATIVE REQUIRED Documents for those who DO NOT file taxes:

 

All students can be recommended by donors for the Individual Original Tax Credit.

STO4KIDZ awards a minimum 90% of every tax credit contribution and charitable donation in scholarship, MONTHLY.

You must apply for each student once per school year. The application is good for each academic year and it expires in May of each year.

Online application windows for each academic year are:

  1. April 15th – June 1st OR
  2. November 1st – December 1st

Yes! A current completed application must be on file for STO4KIDZ to consider a scholarship for your student for the current academic school year. Application expires at the end of each school year; therefore, the parent/guardian must apply for the student(s) every year. We highly take into consideration the recommendations of tax contributors, but it does not guarantee a scholarship and is not the only factor that STO4KIDZ considers when granting an award. However, we will do our best to meet the tuition needs of every student.

  1. Family financial circumstances
  2. Donor recommendations
  3. A brief narrative about the student by parents/guardian
  4. Letters of recommendation for the student (Considering student’s age)
  5. Students with disabilities: Preschool – 12th grade (must provide supporting documents)
  6. Displaced student/Foster child (Must provide supporting documents)

Where does STO tuition aid come from?

STO Tuition financial aid are made possible through the Individuals donors and Corporate donors who chose to redirect their state income taxes toward private education tuition at no-cost to them.  Participants receive a dollar-for-dollar credit therefore, lowering their income tax liabilities which we all liable to pay anyhow.

 

There are 4 STO award types:

  • Individual Original, and Switcher awards, All students can be eligible for the Individual Original award.
  • Corporate Low-Income (LI), and Disabled/Displaced (DD) awards. 
  • There are prerequisite requirements for the Switcher and Corporate award eligibility.
  • To be eligible for the Corporate LI, family must also meet the state income cap guideline)

 

For Out of State Student:

“Out of state” refers to both US and international students.

To meet the out of state prerequisite for the "Switcher" tuition award the student must enroll directly into a qualified private school.  However, there is no requirement for the student to be previously enrolled in an out of state public school, private school or homeschool.

If they enroll in an Arizona public school or choose to homeschool in Arizona before attending a qualified private school, the student does not meet the out of state prerequisite Switcher awards, but can be eligible for the "Original, Corporate Low-Income (LI) or Disabled/Displaced (DD) awards.

For verification, we require a copy of the student’s school enrollment/withdrawal from the previous out of state school.

 

For Previously Homeschooled Students:

The student must have been homeschooled prior to enrolling in a qualified private school.

Students who complete a school year through homeschooling will be eligible for the "Switcher" tuition award for the upcoming academic year.  Additionally, students who switch directly from homeschooling to an eligible private school within the same academic year are also eligible for the same  award.

If a student enrolls in public school between homeschool and private school, they do not meet the homeschool prerequisite.  For verification, we require a copy of the student’s applicable county homeschool withdrawal form/discontinuation form.

 

Still have questions? Please contact us.

  • Can a student who is receiving Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) money from the Arizona Department of Education also receive funds from an STO?

No.  Pursuant to A.R.S. §15-2402(B)(3), an ESA account holder agrees to not receive any STO scholarships in the same contract year as an ESA.  The ESA contract year is July 1st through June 30th.  Once there is a signed ESA contract, all STO monies that have been remitted to a private school for the same contract year must be returned to the STO regardless of when the ESA contract was signed or when the STO remitted scholarship money to a private school for the same academic year.

 

  • Student has an active ESA account, but parent/guardian is actively soliciting for recommended contributions for the following school year(s) (Multi-Year STO4KIDZ Tuition Fund):

You can solicit Recommended Fund contributions while your student is on ESA.  STO4KIDZ will make MULTI-YEAR award to your child which can be paid to your private school once you submit your cancellation of ESA contract documentation to STO4KIDZ.  This allows you to solicit funds for a future higher tuition fee, such as high school. (You must submit a complete STO4KIDZ application annually) 

 

  • Students who opted for STO awards instead of renewing or accepting ESA scholarships:

Students who received an ESA in the prior academic year and chose not to renew their ESA account for the following school year, or students who did not accept their ESA scholarship in the current academic year are eligible to receive STO awards. For verification, we request that parents provide a copy of a letter from ESA stating their ESA account is closed.  However, if the student left private school after closing their ESA account and enrolled in an Arizona public school or chose to home-school, the student does not meet the STO prerequisite.

 

  • What if a parent ends the ESA contract during the school year?  Can the student then receive an STO scholarship?

If the parent closes the ESA contract during the school year there will be no conflict if the student receives an STO award for the remainder of the academic year as long as the parent does not sign another ESA contract for the same contract year.  Parents that withdraw from the ESA program will receive an email indicating their ESA account is closed which can be provided to the STO for verification.  

 

  • How does STO4KIDZ determine if our financial aid applicants are receiving ESA money?

STO4KIDZ financial aid application form and payment process includes verification with the private schools and the parents that students financial aid applicants do not have a signed contract or have not received any ESA funding for the current school year.  If we determine that the parent has a signed ESA contract, the private school must refund all STO financial aid money paid for the same contract year back to our STO.  STO4KIDZ requires verification from the private schools and the parents throughout the academic year as a student’s ESA status can change during the year.

 

For information on ESA you can visit AZED.GOV/ESA  OR  contact us.

  • The Individual Original and Switcher awards are distributed monthly.
  • The Corporate financial aids are awarded at the beginning of each semester.
  • You will be notified by email each time your student receives an STO award after the tuition award check has been sent to your student’s school.

Please contact us if you are not sure your student qualifies to receive the Switcher Tax Credit or the Corporate financial aid awards.