Is it possible to have a student’s entire tuition paid for them, and every dollar be reimbursed to the donor by the state of Georgia?

Recently, we have become aware of an exciting new opportunity regarding your child’s education. As you know, we have committed to a Christian education for our family, believing that God will provide the means necessary to fund this choice. In addition to paying student tuition, families of private school students have also been required to pay regular school taxes. The state of Georgia has recognized this problem and has initiated a new program to give some balance to this situation.

In May 2008, the Georgia state legislature passed a bill called The Georgia Private School Tax Credit (HB1133). The bill allotted $50 million per calendar year of state income tax money to be used for private school scholarships. Individuals and companies paying Georgia income tax are allowed to donate to private schools and receive dollar for dollar credit off of their Georgia Income Tax making the cost of the donation essentially zero. Individuals are allowed to take the credit for up to $1000 per year, $2500 for married couples filing jointly, and corporations are allowed to donate up to 75% of its Georgia tax liability and be reimbursed dollar for dollar by the state!

It is possible to have a student’s entire tuition paid for them, and every dollar be reimbursed to the donor by the state of Georgia! Too good to be true? I thought so at first, but then I did more research and was amazed at the resources we have at our fingertips. One of the most important aspects of this program is the understanding that the $50 million is available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Time is of the essence! It is essential that we move immediately! Once the money is gone, it’s gone.

There is no cost to our school, Bethlehem Christian Academy, to participate in this program. This is not a fundraiser! Most fundraising companies keep 35-50% of the money received for their products and/or services – some even require thousands of dollars up front. The Georgia Student Scholarship Organization (SSO) is non-profit and by law may only receive 10% of donations received to cover office costs. The school will receive 90% of donations made.

You, as a donor, can designate a specific school and even a specific student to receive the scholarship, as long as the student is not a dependent. There is a simple form to be completed and submitted to the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR). Once the DOR approved the donation, the donor has 30 days to make the donation to Georgia SSO. Georgia SSO will then make disbursement of the funds to Bethlehem Christian Academy. When you file your 2009 taxes, you will receive a dollar for dollar reimbursement (tax credit) for your donation. This is not a deduction – it is a tax credit and will come directly off of your Georgia tax liability.

We truly believe that this is a program that can revolutionize the future of our school and give us the resources to offer many more opportunities for every student. This is not only a program for parents, but for anyone who would like an opportunity to take command of the way in which our tax dollars are used.

Thank you for your consideration. We are truly thankful for you and your care and concern for our family. For further information, please contact Bethlehem Christian Academy. Also, feel free to consult your tax professional regarding this program. We are excited about this opportunity and believe that it can be a blessing to every Bethlehem family. Don’t miss out – be a part of this exciting new program!

Anthony Torbett
School Board Chairman

Donation Designation Form
Generic Scholarship Form
Pre-Approval Form