APRIL 30, 2012 — Last Day to Submit 2011-2012 Scholarship Applications
Monday, April 30, 2012 is the final date in which to complete and file and 2011-2012 scholarship application. The 2012-2013 is now available online! Please call us at 480-699-8911 if we can provide you with any further information.
2012-2013 Application Now Available!
Applications are still being accepted for the 2011-2012 school year THROUGH APRIL 30, 2012 using the 2011-2012 online application. The last distribution for the 2011-2012 school year will be in May 2012. Applications for the 2012-2013 school year are available by using the 2012-2013 online application OR by downloading the 2012-2013 application. We require only one application per school year, and the deadline to apply for the 2012-2013 school year is April 30, 2013.
“NEW” PLUS (Private Learning Uplifting Students) TAX CREDIT DONATIONS
With the passing of Senate Bill 1047, Arizona taxpayers will have the opportunity in 2012 to donate an additional $500 for single individuals and $1,000 for married couples under the guidelines of the “New” PLUS Tax Credit program. Scholarships provided from donations that claim the additional (PLUS) credit are restricted to benefitting students that fit into specific categories that encourage school choice: STUDENTS THAT BENEFIT FROM “PLUS” DONATIONS: A. Students that attended a governmental primary or secondary school as a full-time student or attended a preschool program that offers services to students with disabilities for at least 90 days of the prior fiscal year and transferred from a governmental primary or secondary school to a qualified private school. B. Enroll in a qualified school in a Kindergarten program. C. Is the dependent of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is stationed in this state pursuant to military orders. D. Received an educational scholarship or tuition grant under paragraph A, B or C above, and the children continue to attend a qualified school(s) in a subsequent year(s). • The FIRST $503 donated to a School Tuition Organization (or $1,006 for married Arizona taxpayers filing jointly) must be claimed on Form 323 before the second (PLUS) credit can be claimed. • The second donation of $500 for single taxpayers or $1,000 for married Arizona taxpayers filing jointly is eligible for an additional state tax credit and requires completing Form 348 to claim the credit. No credit can be claimed on a Form 348 until the maximum credit is claimed on the Form 323. • Donors will need to disclose on the Donation Form the tax year(s) they intend to claim the credit(s). A special meeting of the Arizona Student Tuition Organizations and the Department of Revenue is scheduled for the first week of May 2012 to finalize the process and procedures that support the new PLUS program. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROCESS THE NEW “PLUS” DONATIONS ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2012
2012-2013 Applications Available Soon!
We are now accepting applications for the 2011-2012 school year! You may still apply for the 2010-2011 school year using the same online application OR by downloading the 2010-2011 application. The last distribution for the 2010-2011 school year will be in May.
New Website Launched Today!
APESF is excited to launch its new website! We are launching the site in stages and the full site will be completely functioning by Monday, September 19. Feel free to browse around and check it out!
Breaking News: Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Tuition Tax Credit Program!
Arizona school children and their parents won a major victory in the United States Supreme Court today. In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld Arizona’s Scholarship Tax Credit Program that enables thousands of families to send their children to the school of their choice.
The program allows Arizonans to receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donations to School Tuition Organizations (STO), which then allocate scholarships to deserving students. The more than 50 nonprofit STOs in Arizona award scholarships annually to about 27,000 students.
2012 Is Here! You have until April 15, 2012 to make your donation for 2011.
Click here for our latest email! Happy New Year! Great News!! You have until April 15, 2012 to make a donation that qualifies for a 2011 tax credit. DONATE ONLINE TODAY! Happy New Year! Learn More Take the Credit Online Now Download Donor Packet
New! Donation deadline changed to April 15
A new provision in the law now allows donations made through April 15 to count toward the prior tax year at the election of the donor, starting with tax year 2010!
Extending the contribution date deadline takes away uncertainty in giving. Under current law, contributions must be made by December 31 in order to count on that year’s tax return. Many people are not certain of their tax burden at that point. With this new law, people have the opportunity of contributing up until April 15 and thereby allowing them to know how much they could contribute as a tax credit.
New! Pre-Qualification Process and Monthly Distributions
Did you know that the AZ Tuition Tax Credit Law was recently amended?
Recent changes to the law, while positive, have mandated new operational requirements for School Tuition Organizations like APESF to ensure the integrity of this vital program and proper stewardship of public funds. Among these changes is a requirement that all School Tuition Organizations must consider financial need as part of their application review and scholarship award process. Donor recommendations are still permitted but cannot be the only basis for scholarship awards.
U.S. Supreme Court likely to vindicate legality of Arizona school choice program
School choice is back before the U.S. Supreme Court today with Garriott v. Winn, a lawsuit that involves a challenge to Arizona’s 13-year-old scholarship tax credit program. The program funds more than 27,000 scholarships for students to attend private schools. The state authorizes an income tax credit of up to $500 for individual contributions, and $1,000 for married couples, to privately operated School Tuition Organizations. In turn, these organizations award scholarships to cover private-school tuitions.