Donor's FAQ
I can get a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit and a federal charitable tax deduction?
That's correct. Georgia automatically gives you a dollar-for-dollar tax credit and since your payment/donation is made to a 501(c)(3) organization, you can also claim it as a charitable contribution if you itemize your federal taxes. See our section on Federal Tax Deduction for more information.
How does the Education Tax Credit program help the state of Georgia?
Quite simply, it saves the state money; and a lot of it. Georgia is mandated by the State Constitution to provide an education for every child that is a citizen of Georgia. For 2016, the state average to publicly educate a child is $9,081 (as published by the GA Department of Education). Students receive far less than this amount in scholarship assistance and with more than 13,000 students receiving an Education Tax Credit scholarship each year, the state of Georgia saves well over $60 million a year.
What is the process to donate to the Tuition Tax Credit program?
First, a request to donate must be filed with the GA DOR. We do this for you through our Paperless Donation process. We file these donation requests electronically on first day of business in January and the DOR then has 30 days to approve or deny the request. As long as there are funds available under the cap, your request will be approved. Once your request is approved, you then have 60 days to make your donation, in full, to ASF. So while your request to donate is made in January, you won't have to actually write the check until February or March.
Can I electronically file my taxes if I participate in this program?
Yes you can. However, if requested by the Tax Commissioner, taxpayers must show their tax credit documentation.
I'm an Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) filer. Will this program be beneficial to me?
Yes. It typically provides a greater benefit to AMT filers as compared to non-AMT filers. Each tax payer's situation is unique, so your tax advisor will be able to determine and explain your exact benefit.
Can I designate that my contribution will provide a scholarship for a particular student?
No you cannot. The law is very clear that you can designate your contribution to benefit a particular private school in Georgia, but that you may not direct it to a specific individual.
Can I choose to support more than one school with my donation?
Absolutely. Just make that notation during the Paperless Donation Process and designate how you'd like the funds to be divided and we'll honor your wishes.
Am I required to choose a school(s)?
No. If you'd like to help students no matter which Georgia private school they choose to attend, we have an Undesignated Fund. We utilize this fund to provide scholarship assistance to those eligible students who will not be attending a school that we otherwise have funds available for.
How do I make my donation?
We accept checks, bank draft or electronic checks. If you are paying by electronic check or bank draft, you can make your payment on-line by clicking here (On-line payment option is only available in February & March).
If paying by check, please make your check out to: Alyn Scholarship Fund and mail it to:
Alyn Scholarship Fund
1320 South Madison Ave.
Box #115
Douglas, GA 31533
How much can individuals give?
Individuals can give up to $1,000.
Married couples filing separately can give up to $1,250 each.
Married couples filing jointly can give up to $2,500.
I'm an owner in a business, how much can I give?
Each owner of an S-Corp, LLC or Partnership can give up to $10,000. For more details, see our section on
FAQ for Pass-Through Businesses.
Can C-Corporations donate?
Yes they can. C-Corporations can donate up to 75% of their state tax liability.
What happens if my donation exceeds my tax liability?
While the tax credit is a non-refundable, any excess credit above your tax liability can be carried forward for up to
five years.
What happens when the annual cap ($58 million) is met?
Once the annual cap has been met, no further donation requests are approved for that year. The fund reopens the following year on the first day of business in January. The process that the Dept. of Revenue uses is to "day stamp" donor requests on the date it's received. If the donation request is received prior to the cap being met, then the full amount of the request is granted. If the donation request is received after the cap has been met, the request is denied.
What happens if a donor request is received on the same day the annual cap is met?
In this instance, the Dept. of Revenue prorates each donor request received on that day. Through this process, all donors are assured of being able to make a donation; just in a lesser amount than what was requested.
That's correct. Georgia automatically gives you a dollar-for-dollar tax credit and since your payment/donation is made to a 501(c)(3) organization, you can also claim it as a charitable contribution if you itemize your federal taxes. See our section on Federal Tax Deduction for more information.
How does the Education Tax Credit program help the state of Georgia?
Quite simply, it saves the state money; and a lot of it. Georgia is mandated by the State Constitution to provide an education for every child that is a citizen of Georgia. For 2016, the state average to publicly educate a child is $9,081 (as published by the GA Department of Education). Students receive far less than this amount in scholarship assistance and with more than 13,000 students receiving an Education Tax Credit scholarship each year, the state of Georgia saves well over $60 million a year.
What is the process to donate to the Tuition Tax Credit program?
First, a request to donate must be filed with the GA DOR. We do this for you through our Paperless Donation process. We file these donation requests electronically on first day of business in January and the DOR then has 30 days to approve or deny the request. As long as there are funds available under the cap, your request will be approved. Once your request is approved, you then have 60 days to make your donation, in full, to ASF. So while your request to donate is made in January, you won't have to actually write the check until February or March.
Can I electronically file my taxes if I participate in this program?
Yes you can. However, if requested by the Tax Commissioner, taxpayers must show their tax credit documentation.
I'm an Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) filer. Will this program be beneficial to me?
Yes. It typically provides a greater benefit to AMT filers as compared to non-AMT filers. Each tax payer's situation is unique, so your tax advisor will be able to determine and explain your exact benefit.
Can I designate that my contribution will provide a scholarship for a particular student?
No you cannot. The law is very clear that you can designate your contribution to benefit a particular private school in Georgia, but that you may not direct it to a specific individual.
Can I choose to support more than one school with my donation?
Absolutely. Just make that notation during the Paperless Donation Process and designate how you'd like the funds to be divided and we'll honor your wishes.
Am I required to choose a school(s)?
No. If you'd like to help students no matter which Georgia private school they choose to attend, we have an Undesignated Fund. We utilize this fund to provide scholarship assistance to those eligible students who will not be attending a school that we otherwise have funds available for.
How do I make my donation?
We accept checks, bank draft or electronic checks. If you are paying by electronic check or bank draft, you can make your payment on-line by clicking here (On-line payment option is only available in February & March).
If paying by check, please make your check out to: Alyn Scholarship Fund and mail it to:
Alyn Scholarship Fund
1320 South Madison Ave.
Box #115
Douglas, GA 31533
How much can individuals give?
Individuals can give up to $1,000.
Married couples filing separately can give up to $1,250 each.
Married couples filing jointly can give up to $2,500.
I'm an owner in a business, how much can I give?
Each owner of an S-Corp, LLC or Partnership can give up to $10,000. For more details, see our section on
FAQ for Pass-Through Businesses.
Can C-Corporations donate?
Yes they can. C-Corporations can donate up to 75% of their state tax liability.
What happens if my donation exceeds my tax liability?
While the tax credit is a non-refundable, any excess credit above your tax liability can be carried forward for up to
five years.
What happens when the annual cap ($58 million) is met?
Once the annual cap has been met, no further donation requests are approved for that year. The fund reopens the following year on the first day of business in January. The process that the Dept. of Revenue uses is to "day stamp" donor requests on the date it's received. If the donation request is received prior to the cap being met, then the full amount of the request is granted. If the donation request is received after the cap has been met, the request is denied.
What happens if a donor request is received on the same day the annual cap is met?
In this instance, the Dept. of Revenue prorates each donor request received on that day. Through this process, all donors are assured of being able to make a donation; just in a lesser amount than what was requested.