Give to K-12 Scholarships With a Tax Credit

Decisions to make before you give

1. Which tax year?

Ohio counts gifts made during the tax year or by that year's unextended filing due date, but the same gift can't be claimed twice.[source] The federal credit counts qualified contributions made during the tax year.[source]

2. Are you married and filing jointly?

Both credits are per person. For Ohio, each spouse's own gifts count up to $750.[source] Under the federal proposed regulations, each spouse may claim up to $1,700 for their own qualified contributions.[source] To reach the joint maximum, each spouse gives in their own name, with a separate gift and receipt.

3. Will you designate the gift for the federal credit?

Starting in 2027, a federal credit gift must be designated as a qualified contribution when you make it, and the designation can't be changed later.[source] ASN's online giving form will show the designation option for gifts made on or after January 1, 2027.

4. Do you also want a state credit?

The federal credit is reduced by state credits allowed for your qualified contributions.[source] Under the proposed ordering rule, a state credit applies first to gifts you did not designate for the federal credit.[source] See the worked illustration on the Ohio credit page.

5. Do you want to support a particular school?

You can name a school you care about when you give to ASN. By law, a gift can't be earmarked for a particular student, and ASN makes the final scholarship decisions.[source]

Records to keep

• Your receipt. ASN emails a receipt after your payment clears, showing your name, the amount, and the date received. Ohio requires a receipt like this for its credit.[source]
• Proof of payment. A card or bank statement showing the amount and date.[source]
• For federal credit gifts: the SGO's written acknowledgment, due by January 31 of the following year, with your unique donor number.[source] The IRS says the credit is claimed on Form 8525.[source]

Talk with your tax advisor

Both credits are nonrefundable, so their value depends on your tax liability. The federal credit can be carried forward for up to five years; Ohio's credit can't exceed the tax you owe.[source][source] Advisors can find statute and regulation references in the advisor guide.