The Arizona legislature has retained and expanded some of the incentives for charitable giving for 2022. This alert explains the credits for individuals only. The dollar limits differ depending on marital status. Your payments will make a positive impact on the recipient organizations while at the same time reducing your Arizona income tax liability dollar for dollar. Here are descriptions of the credits:
Private School Tuition Organizations – Form 323
The tax credit for contributions to a School Tuition Organization for 2022 is $1,245 for “married filing joint” and $623 for all other taxpayers. The credit is available for a contribution that provides scholarships or grants to qualified elementary and high schools. Your contribution cannot be designated for the direct benefit of your dependent. However, it can be made to benefit a relative or any other student if they are not your dependent. Here is a list of the 2022 qualified School Tuition Organizations
PLUS “Switcher” Tax Credit Program – Form 348
The Private Learning Uplifting Students (PLUS) tax credit allows donors to receive credit for a contribution over and above the original tax credit. The Arizona taxpayer must first donate the maximum for the original School Tuition Organization Tax Credit in order to donate an additional amount for the PLUS “Switcher” tax credit. The PLUS “Switcher” credit amount for 2021 is $1,238 for “married filing joint” and $620 for all other taxpayers.
Summary of 2022 Private School Tuition Organization Credit Maximums:
| Filing Status | Form 323 “Original” Tax Credit Maximum for 2021 | Form 348 PLUS Tax Credit Maximum for 2021 | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Married Filing Joint | $1,245 | $1,238 | $2,483 |
| All Other Filers | $623 | $620 | $1,243 |
Donations made between January 1, 2023 and April 15, 2023 can be claimed as a credit on either your 2022 or 2023 state tax return.
Public Schools – Form 322
A credit of up to $400 for “married filing joint” and $200 for all other filers is available for payment of fees to an Arizona public school or charter school for extracurricular activities or character education programs. Examples of these activities include field trips, sporting activities, and fine arts. The fees can be paid for the benefit of your child’s participation in a particular activity. Fees must not exceed the actual costs of the activity. Contributions can also be paid to a central fund at the school to fund extracurricular activities for all students. In all cases, the checks should be made out to the individual school. Here’s a list of public schools eligible for this credit.
Fees or donations made between January 1, 2023 and April 15, 2023 can be claimed as a credit on your 2022 or 2023 state tax return.
Qualifying Charitable Organization (QCO) – Form 321
A credit of up to $800 for those filing as “married filing joint” and up to $400 for all other filers is available for cash contributions to a qualifying charitable organization (QCO), including groups that provide services to chronically ill or disabled children. Here is a list of qualifying charitable organizations for 2022.
Beginning in 2018, a unique code has been assigned to each organization. It is extremely helpful if you provide the receipt from the qualifying charitable organization to your tax preparer to easily access the code. Taxpayers do not have to itemize deductions to claim a credit for contributions to charities that provide assistance to these low-income residents of AZ or individuals with chronic illness or physical disabilities. Many well-known organizations assist these residents and qualify for this deduction.
Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organizations (QFCO) – Form 352
A credit of up to $1,000 for those filing as “married filing joint” and up to $500 for all other filers is available for cash contributions to a qualifying foster care organization (QFCO). Here is a list of Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organizations for 2022.
Beginning in 2018, a unique code has been assigned to each organization. It is extremely helpful if you provide the receipt from the qualifying charitable organization to your tax preparer to easily access the code. A contribution to a QFCO does not qualify for, and cannot be included in, a credit claimed as a contribution to a QCO on Form 321.
Arizona Military Family Relief Fund – Form 340
A credit for contributions of up to $400 for “married filing joint” and $200 for all other filers is available for contributions made to the Arizona Military Family Relief Fund (MFRF). The MFRF provides financial assistance for active-duty service members, pre-9/11 and post-9/11 veterans, and their families. Before claiming this credit, you must have received a receipt from the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services that indicates the contribution qualifies for the credit. The donations to this fund are capped at $850,000 for online donations. Once the $850,000 cap has been reached, the Fund will accept an additional $150,000 of donation by check, bringing the total cap to $1M per year. As of June 6, 2022, the Fund estimates it has received $483,461.95 in donations. The Fund historically reaches its $1M cap before the end of the calendar year, so donors are encouraged to contribute as soon as possible. Here is a list of organizations that qualify for this credit.
S Corp. Private School Tuition Credits Passed Through to its Individual Principals
An S corporation that qualifies for the corporate private school tuition credit may elect to pass through the credits to its individual shareholders if the S corporation contributes at least $5,000 to a qualified school tuition organization. The corporation must obtain a copy of the school tuition organization’s preapproved application, file this with its tax return, and provide its shareholders with AZ Form 335-S and/or 341-S. The shareholders then use AZ Form 335-I and/or 341-I to claim the credits on their personal tax returns. These credits may be claimed in addition to the two individual private school tuition credits and are not subject to limitations that apply to the individual private school tuition credits. Here is a list of organizations that are qualified to receive corporate donations.
Arizona Credits Summary
The credits described above give you the opportunity to direct your tax dollars to the schools and charities of your choice at no cost. The state credits totaling $5,083 for “married filing joint” and $2,543 for all other filers can be claimed at one time for contributions made individually. Except for the Arizona Military Family Relief Fund Credit, unused credits will be carried forward for five succeeding years until used. Receipts should be retained for your records and provided to your tax preparer to account for these on your Arizona tax return. Additionally, Arizona requires all contribution dates to be reported on their respective credit form. Contributions and fees paid by April 15, 2023 (except the Arizona Military Relief Fund and the S Corporation Private School Tuition Credits, which must be paid on or before December 31, 2022) may be claimed on your 2022 income tax return. Under proposed federal tax regulations issued on August 23, 2018, you generally will not receive a federal tax deduction if a donation is allowable as an Arizona tax credit.
If you would like to know more about these credits or find out how they would apply to your specific tax situation, please contact BeachFleischman.
