Through our partnership with Apogee Georgia School Choice Scholarship Fund, you can contribute to the Financial Aid program at Arbor and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit off your Georgia state taxes. Your contribution is held in a fund managed by Apogee to help provide tuition assistance to eligible Arbor students who, otherwise, would not be able to afford full tuition.
The Financial Aid Tax Credit (FATC) program provides an opportunity for Georgia taxpayers to redirect Georgia income tax dollars to provide financial aid assistance to incoming Arbor students that are eligible for entry into public school (ages 4, 5, and 6) OR who transfer to Arbor from public school or have been homeschooled.
This year Apogee will sponsor seven Arbor children for a total scholarship award of $50,156.
How to participate:
- Visit Apogee123.org and click Get Started Apply Today.
- Click Application: Online Submission
- Select New or Repeat Donor. (If repeat, enter your Donor ID or email address).
- Choose your filing type and fill in your contact information.
- Select Arbor Montessori School as the recipient school and decide how much you want to pledge.
- Click Submit! A portion of the taxes you’ll owe next year will provide scholarships for Arbor Students.
Arbor Parent Scott Deaton Introduces Apogee
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FAQ: Apogee and the Financial Aid Tax Credit Program
What is the Apogee Program?
This program is part of the Qualified Education Expense Credit Program, which came about in 2008 when Georgia House Bill 1133 (HB1133) was signed into law. The resulting student scholarship organizations (SSOs) allow for Georgia taxpayers—individuals and corporations—to contribute a portion of their state taxes to independent schools of their designation. These SSOs use the contributions to award scholarships to eligible students from K-12 public schools so that they can attend the private schools of their parents’ choosing.
Arbor has partnered with Apogee Georgia School Choice Scholarship Fund, a state-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit SSO, to help us make the best use of this program.
How much can I contribute?
The amount you may contribute depends upon your filing status:
Up to $2,500 for an individual
Up to $5,000 for a married couple
Up to 75% of a C-Corp, Trust, or S-Corp/Pass-through electing to pay GA tax through the entity
Up to $25k max for passthrough shareholders
What exactly is the donation process?
1) Donate through Apogee website and choose Arbor as the designee.
2) Apogee will approve your pledge in January.
3) Donors pay Apogee in March.
4) Once Apogee has been paid in March, then Arbor can accept and award the funds at any time.
Is there a cost to participate under the new tax code?
No. Regardless of your tax situation, you will receive a dollar-for-dollar State tax credit in exchange for your contribution, resulting in a pure wash. There is no cost to participating in the program.
How do I know what my GA tax liability is?
Your GA tax liability is typically 6% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). You can also look at Line 18 of your GA tax return (Form 500) to learn your GA tax liability.
What happens if my donation exceeds my tax liability?
The tax credit is a “nonrefundable” credit. Any excess can be carried forward for up to five years.
Why should I submit my application now?
The State has placed a yearly cap on the amount of credit available at $58 million. That means that every school, tax payer, and corporation in GA is drawing from the same exact pool of credits. Once the funds are used up, you will have to wait until next year to participate in the program. Once funds are deposited, they are immediately available to help families seeking an educational choice for their children. The yearly cap is being met within the first day of January and we expect this trend to continue until the cap is raised beyond the $100 million.