​Most Arizona residents are familiar with the Arizona School Tax Credit, which allows individuals to claim a credit for making contributions or paying fees to a public charter school for support of extracurricular activities or character education programs. Your tax credit donation stays in your community to directly support children. See below for other frequently asked questions and how you can benefit from donating. 

• Who can donate? 

  • Arizona law allows taxpayers to receive a tax credit of up to $200 for a single individual or a head of household and $400 for a married couple filing a joint return for donations that benefit students in Arizona public schools. It is not a deduction – it is a tax credit, reducing what your state tax liability dollar for dollar. All Arizona taxpayers are eligible to donate – you do not have to have children attending the school or district you donate to.

• What are qualified activities or qualified programs for the purpose of the credit?

  • Qualified activities and qualified programs include any of the following: extracurricular activities; character education programs, defined in A.R.S. §15-719; standardized testing fees for college readiness; assessment for career and technical preparation programs; cardiopulmonary resuscitation training pursuant to A.R.S.§15-718.01; acquiring capital items as defined in the Uniform System of Financial Records, including those items listed in A.R.S.§15-903, subsection C paragraphs 2 though 8; community school meal programs; student consumable health care supplies, and playground equipment and shade structures for playground equipment.

• Must the credit for contributions made or fees paid to a public school be claimed in the year of donation?

  • No, credit eligible fees paid and contributions made to a public school from January 1 through April 15 of a calendar year may be used as a tax credit to either the current or preceding taxable year.​

• Why make a donation?

  • Extracurricular activities help students learn about friendships, creativity, teamwork, time management, stress relief, conflict resolution, and develop self self-confidence.​

• What else you can do?​

  • Check with your employer to see if they have a matching funds program. Some companies will match your contribution dollar for dollar.