Maybe you’ve heard people talk about tax credits before, but you left with more questions than answers. Our short, two-minute video simply explains how tax credits work — share it with your friends!
Donor Resources
Brochures
Looking for a copy of one of our brochures? Download them below, or if you’d like physical copies, contact our office today and we’ll gladly mail them to you.
Partner Schools
Want to help support Christian Education in your community, but not sure which schools are close to you? Our Partner School list is sorted by city, and names more than 130 schools that are providing thousands of Arizona students with a faith-based education.
Tax Credits Worksheet
If you still have extra tax liability after donating toward the Private School Tax Credit, you can take advantage of some of Arizona’s other tax credits, too! Use this worksheet to help plan your tax credit donations.
Claiming Your Credit
Filing your own taxes can sometimes be confusing. Our short video walks you through how to read your donation receipt, which tax forms to fill out, as well as what each section of your tax forms means.
How Much Can You Give?
Ready to help make Christian Education affordable for an Arizona student, but not sure how much you should donate? This short video explains the maximum tax credit amounts, and will also help you figure out what your tax liability is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I donate to ACSTO?
We Are Distinctly Christian — Our passion is Christian Education. We believe every student should have the opportunity to learn in a Christian School. We partner with more than 130 Christian Schools across the state of Arizona to build God’s kingdom.
We Are Good Stewards — We award 92% of all donations as scholarships — greater than the 90% required by law! We have earned Charity Navigator’s top Four-Star rating since 2016.
We Are School Choice Champions — Our leadership stays continuously engaged with policymakers and school choice advocates to promote educational freedom for parents, both through choice and affordability.
We Have Excellent Customer Service & Resources — Our team members have the best training and are available to assist you. We also offer numerous helpful resources for donors, parents, and schools.
Will I receive a receipt?
If you have a Donor Portal account and donate through it, you may print or download your receipt right away. If you created a portal account but donate as a Guest (online), by phone, or by mail, your receipt will be available in your portal the day after ACSTO processes your donation. For donors without a Donor Portal account, an annual receipt statement will be mailed by January 31 of the following year. If a receipt is needed sooner, please call our office at 480.820.0403.
If I already get a refund, why would I need a tax credit?
You receive a refund when you overpay toward your state taxes throughout the year. A credit is very different from a refund. Dollar for dollar, a credit offsets the tax you owe the state. Arizona gives you credit for each dollar you donate up to your state tax liability or the stated maximum, whichever is less. When you take advantage of a tax credit, if you normally get a refund, you’ll get a bigger refund! Likewise, at the end of the year, if you typically owe tax, you’ll owe less or now receive a refund.
Do I need a code to claim my tax credit?
No. Unlike Arizona’s charitable, foster care, and public school tax credits, the Private School Tax Credit does NOT require an organization/school code to claim the credit on your state taxes. If a code is requested, please confirm you have selected the Private School Tax Credit, or that you are using Arizona Form 323 (and Form 348, depending on your donation amount).
Is my donation eligible for a federal deduction?
Please consult your tax advisor for specific advice concerning deductibility for your tax situation.
How much of my donation is awarded as a scholarship?
Arizona law requires that 90% of donated funds are awarded as scholarships. ACSTO awards 92%! We operate on an 8% budget which is used to pay for operating costs and numerous resources for our schools, parents, and donors.
Can I recommend a specific school or student with my donation?
Yes, you may identify a specific school and your donation will be used to award scholarships among applicants from that school. A current list of our Partner Schools is available below.
In addition, you may also recommend an eligible K-12 student (or preschooler with disabilities) who is not your child or dependent.
Please note, Overflow Scholarships can only be awarded to students who qualify to receive them. Families may not “swap” donations by recommending each other’s children. The law states, “A taxpayer may not claim a tax credit if the taxpayer agrees to swap donations with another taxpayer to benefit either taxpayer’s own dependent.”
What is the difference between a donor recommendation and a scholarship award?
A donor recommendation is just that, a recommendation. By law, a school tuition organization (STO) cannot guarantee a scholarship award based solely on the recommendation of a donor. Recommendations are considered and are helpful in the scholarship award process, but they are not the only factor. Scholarship awards are made by our Selection Committees on a quarterly basis. In addition to any donor recommendations received, the committees consider the family financial information (required by state law) and the student narrative provided in the student’s Scholarship Application.
Can an STO let parents know who recommended their child for a scholarship or the amount donated?
Per the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR), donor names may not be shared with scholarship recipients. In addition, as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we are required by federal law to maintain donor confidentiality. Arizona tax credit law prohibits STOs from awarding, designating, or reserving scholarships based solely on a donor’s recommendation. Therefore, donation amounts for recommendations are not disclosed since there are no guarantees to scholarships that have not been awarded yet.
