What if I don’t know what my liability will be or if my credit exceeds my tax liability?
If the credit a tax payer receives for a donation exceeds the liability, the credit can be carried forward for up to 5 years.
Can donations be directed to a school that is not recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)?
Donations can be directed to schools that are recognized or in the process of being recognized by ISBE. However, only schools recognized by ISBE are eligible to receive donations to be used for scholarships under the Invest in Kids Act. Schools in the process of being recognized by ISBE are marked with “PENDING RECOGNITION” on
Can one donate marketable securities such as stocks and bonds, and is there any advantage in doing so?
Both Big Shoulders Fund and Empower Illinois accept marketable securities as STC donations. The securities are converted by the SGO into cash. If the liquidated value does not cover the amount of the tax credit reservation, donors can make up the difference by making an additional payment. If the liquidated value exceeds the amount of
How do I choose the region for my donation?
There are 5 regions. When reserving your tax credit on the Illinois Department of Revenue website, it is important that you choose the region in which your designee(s) are located, not the region of your home address. All schools in our network are in Region 1 (Cook County), with the exception of TABG, which is
Can I donate if I am from out of state?
If you’re out of state, but pay taxes in Illinois, you can still donate and receive a tax credit. You will need a My Tax account. Please click here for instructions: https://agudahstc.org/donate/
Can donations be anonymous?
Yes, all donations can be anonymous.
Can donation credits be applied against Illinois’ personal property replacement tax that corporations (including Subchapter S corporations), partnerships and trusts are subject to?
No. The tax credit scholarship statute and regulations prohibit this.
Can I use a credit card for my tax credit scholarship donation?
Yes, credit cards are an accepted form of payment for both Big Shoulders Fund and Empower Illinois. Big Shoulders, however, does not charge transaction fee, while Empower Illinois does charge a 3.25% processing fee.
How do I get help with the donation process?
You may contact Agudah directly at stc@agudahil.org or call our helpline at (773) 279-8400 ext 260. In addition, you may contact the SGO you intend to donate through, or the school you intend to designate.
Can a taxpayer make a tax-credited contribution to a Scholarship Granting Organization from a donor advised fund?
No. A donor advised fund is a charitable giving vehicle administered by a public charity created to manage charitable donations on behalf of organizations or individuals. Payments to Scholarship Granting Organizations are not treated as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes and therefore payments from a donor advised fund do not qualify for the