Updated March 1, 2023
1. What is the history and purpose of the tuition tax credit legislation that gave rise to the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program?
In 2008, the Georgia General Assembly passed the Qualified Education Expense (QEE) Tax Credit bill (HB 1133), and Governor Sonny Perdue signed it into law. The legislation was further amended in 2011 (HB 325), 2013 (HB 283), 2018 (HB 217), and 2022 (HB 517). The law provides for the creation of student scholarship organizations (SSOs) to which Georgia individual and corporate taxpayers can contribute in exchange for a state income tax credit. The SSOs use the contributions to award scholarships to students from K-12 public schools so that they can attend the private schools chosen by their parents. Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program, Inc. was the first SSO to be recognized by the Georgia Department of Education.
2. What other schools are participating in Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program?
The list of GOAL Participating Schools is accessible on the GOAL website at: http://www.goalscholarship.org/participating_schools/.
3. How does the Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit work?
The cap for 2024 was met on the first business day of the year. We will open the application process for 2025 on Monday, June 3, 2024.
Because there are limited tax credits available each year ($120 million), a taxpayer who is interested in contributing to GOAL must be pre-approved by the Georgia Department of Revenue ("DOR"). This simply means that the DOR sets aside a certain amount of the available tax credits specifically for the respective taxpayer.
So, the taxpayer will submit his or her 2024 tax credit application to GOAL. Then, GOAL will take care of every remaining step, and will remind the taxpayer when action is required. Each step in the process is outlined below:
- GOAL Submits Taxpayer Application to DOR: GOAL submits the taxpayer's request for a 2024 tax credit to the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) on the first business day of January 2024.
- DOR Informs Taxpayer of Approval: Taxpayer receives a DOR Approval Letter within 30 days after GOAL submits the application, indicating the amount for which he or she is approved and the deadline for making payment to GOAL.
- DOR Informs GOAL of Taxpayer Approval: GOAL also receives notice of taxpayer's DOR approval, and GOAL will email taxpayer detailed instructions regarding payment deadline and options.
- Taxpayer Makes Payment to GOAL: When notified of DOR approval (by DOR Approval Letter or email from GOAL), taxpayer must submit payment to GOAL before his or her 60-day payment deadline.
- GOAL Emails Taxpayer Tax Receipt: GOAL will send taxpayer Form IT-QEE-SSO1 (tax receipt) for claiming the credit on his or her 2024 Georgia income tax return.
- Taxpayer Claims Georgia Income Tax Credit: When taxpayer files their 2024 taxes in 2025, he or she will take a 100% Georgia income tax credit. Tax filing guidance is available on GOAL's website.
4. What are the maximum amounts that individuals and businesses can contribute to GOAL in exchange for a Georgia education expense tax credit?
Each calendar year, until the annual cap on available education expense credits is reached:
| Tax Filing Status | Contribution Limit |
| Single Filer | $2,500 |
| Married Separate Filer | $2,500 |
| Married Joint Filer | $5,000 |
| Pass-Through Owner (not making HB 149 election) | $25,000 |
| C Corp, Trust, or Pass-Through electing to pay tax at the entity level (HB 149) | 75% of annual tax liability |
| Business that pays insurance premium tax | 75% of annual tax liability, but credit shall not exceed $1 million |
5. Do I have to submit a tax credit application for the full amount allowed?
You may apply for as little or as much as you want up to the limits listed above. Importantly, please note that if taxpayer is pre-approved by DOR for an amount greater than the amount taxpayer actually contributes, the "excess" of the amount pre-approved over the amount contributed is lost from the available tax credits for the year, and will not be made available to other taxpayers.
6. What forms of payment does GOAL accept?
GOAL accepts checks, credit card payments, payment via ACH, or stock donations.
Contributions to GOAL should not be made from a donor-advised fund, as the taxpayer received an income tax charitable deduction at the time they originally contributed to the donor-advised fund and is no longer the owner of the assets from which the contribution to GOAL would be made. For further questions related to this matter, donor should consult with their tax advisor.
7. Is there an age or other restriction on who can participate in this program?
There are no age restrictions on who can participate in this program. As long as you pay state taxes, you can redirect your Georgia income taxes to GOAL.
8. How does a tax credit differ from a deduction?
A tax credit is significantly more beneficial than a deduction. A credit reduces your Georgia taxes dollar-for-dollar while a deduction reduces the taxable income upon which taxes are calculated.
9. How do I know what my Georgia income tax liability is?
Your Georgia income tax liability is typically Georgia's marginal tax rate (5.49% for 2024) multiplied by your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). If your income and deductions will not change much from the prior year, you can look at your Georgia income tax return (Form 500) for your income tax liability for the prior tax year and estimate your tax liability accordingly. Of course, only an accountant or other tax professional can provide you with a solid estimate of your upcoming Georgia income tax liability.
10. If an individual has paid all of his or her estimated Georgia income taxes for a particular tax year and makes a contribution to GOAL in that year, will he or she still receive a Georgia income tax credit for the amount contributed to GOAL?
Yes. If, after applying the tax credit against the Georgia income tax due and applying all estimated tax payments and withheld income taxes, there is an overpayment, the taxpayer can elect to have all or a portion of the overpayment paid to him or her.
11. Can I reduce my Georgia income tax withholdings so that I can recoup my funds earlier than I would at tax filing time?
Yes. If you pay your Georgia income taxes by having an amount withheld each pay period from your paycheck, by reducing the amount of Georgia income tax that is withheld from your paycheck each pay period, you can recoup your contribution to GOAL evenly over the remainder of the tax year. The portion by which you should reduce your withholdings is the amount of your contribution to GOAL divided by the remaining pay periods in the year. This results in greater take-home pay throughout the year, as opposed to a potential refund at tax filing time.
For example: If you are paid twice per month and contribute $1,200 to GOAL in mid-March 2024, and you adjust your Georgia income tax withholdings in time to take effect for your March 31st paycheck, as of March 31st, there are 19 pay periods remaining for the year. You may reduce your withholdings by $63.16 per pay period, which is $1,200 divided by the 19 remaining pay periods for 2024. The additional amount of "take home pay" will total $1,200 by the end of 2024.
12. I usually get a refund from Georgia. What happens if I donate to GOAL?
For taxpayers who contribute to GOAL as individuals who are single, married filing separate, or married filing jointly, if your Georgia income tax liability is at least as much as your GOAL contribution, your refund will increase by the amount of your donation. If on the other hand, your state income tax liability is less than the amount of your contribution to GOAL, the amount of the unused credit can be carried forward for up to five years.
13. Will this trigger an audit of my return?
No. The credit is applied against your Georgia income tax liability, and is preapproved by the state of Georgia. It is treated just like additional withholding tax. GOAL has developed a solid line of communication with DOR officials responsible for administration of the Georgia Education Expense Credit and works closely with them to ensure the fair and responsive administration of this program.
14. If I redirect some of my Georgia income tax payment to GOAL, can I designate that it be used to provide scholarships at a specific school?
Yes. The designation of a particular school (or multiple schools) is permissible, and, as long as the school(s) meets the legal requirement that all funds raised in one calendar year must be fully allocated to specific student recipients by the end of the following calendar year, the taxpayer's contribution will be obligated to provide scholarships to eligible students to attend the designated school(s). At least once a year, a school's financial aid office will recommend qualified applicants to GOAL for receipt of GOAL scholarships, the amount of which is based on applicant household income and family size.
15. If I redirect some of my Georgia tax payments to GOAL, can I designate the student who will benefit from the financial assistance?
No. Although a donor to GOAL may designate a school, no designation of individual students is permitted. Per amended legislation (HB 283): "(1) The tax credit shall not be allowed if the taxpayer designates the taxpayer's qualified education expense for the direct benefit of any particular individual, whether or not such individual is a dependent of the taxpayer. (2) In soliciting contributions, a student scholarship organization shall not represent, or direct a qualified private school to represent, that, in exchange for contributing to the student scholarship organization, a taxpayer shall receive a scholarship for the direct benefit of any particular individual, whether or not such individual is a dependent of the taxpayer. The status as a student scholarship organization shall be revoked for any such organization which violates this paragraph."
16. What is the deadline for making contributions that qualify for the tax credit?
In order to contribute to GOAL for a tax credit, an individual or corporation must receive pre-approval from the Georgia Department of Revenue. The pre-approval process must be completed and all contributions postmarked to GOAL within 60 days of DOR pre-approval, and never later than December 31st of the applicable calendar year in order to be accepted.
17. What if I pay quarterly estimated taxes?
If you pay your current year's Georgia income taxes on a quarterly basis, in four equal installments, due on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 (of the following year), you can reduce a portion of each quarterly estimated income tax payment if you contribute to GOAL for a tax credit within the same year.
To determine the amount by which you can reduce each quarterly estimated income tax payment, divide by four the total amount that you contributed to GOAL for the year and reduce each quarterly estimated tax payment accordingly.
Example: This year, you estimate that you will owe $10,000 of Georgia income taxes for the year. Of this amount, you contribute $1,200 to GOAL in March for which you will receive a corresponding Georgia income tax credit. Normally, you would make an estimated income tax payment to the state of $2,500 on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 (of the following year). Because you will be redirecting $1,200 of your Georgia income tax payments to GOAL, you can reduce each of these estimated income tax payments by $300 ($1,200 divided by four), meaning that $2,200 will be the amount of each quarterly estimated income tax payment due to the state of Georgia.
18. What if my Georgia income tax liability is less than the amount I contributed to GOAL? Do I lose that money?
For taxpayers who contribute to GOAL as individuals who are single, married filing separate, or married filing jointly: no, you do not lose the money. The tax credit will apply toward your taxes for up to five future years. Taxpayers who contribute to GOAL as "C" corporations, trusts, or other entities cannot carry-forward any education expense tax credits.
19. May I paper file my taxes and claim this credit?
No, as this credit (along with all Series 100 credits in Georgia) may only be claimed if you file your taxes electronically.
20. Can I designate that my contribution be split between multiple schools?
Yes. Simply indicate on your GOAL tax credit application how much money you would like to go to each school, and GOAL will ensure your contribution is allocated accordingly.
21. Can I split my contribution between a GOAL school and a non-GOAL school?
Yes. As long as the other school has signed up to participate with an approved Student Scholarship Organization ("SSO"), you can designate a portion of your contribution for that school, and GOAL will simply forward those funds to their SSO partner. GOAL does not take any administrative fees out of the money that it forwards to other SSOs.
22. How long does it usually take to receive approval from the Department of Revenue for my contribution?
Under the law, the Department of Revenue has 30 days to approve your contribution. As a result of recent automation, the DOR currently provides approval within approximately two weeks.
23. Can I contribute to the GOAL program for a tax credit if I don't reside in the state of Georgia?
GOAL's CPA firm has confirmed that there are complexities related to tax filers from other states taking the GOAL tax credit – even when they are working in Georgia and paying Georgia income taxes. GOAL recommends that any non-GA residents consult with their tax advisor as to whether the GOAL tax credit would be the right choice for them.
24. Can I change the designation of my contribution after I have completed the contribution process?
Once you have designated a particular school and the funds have been deposited into that school's designated account at GOAL, you cannot change the designation of your contribution.
25. What happens if I give a donation to GOAL but I find out that my school is working with another SSO?
We will process your donation as any other and will pass the full balance of the funds to the correct SSO.
26. Where is this credit explained in the Georgia Law?
The tax credit guidelines are listed in the Georgia Code Title 48 Chapter 7-29.16. The details of the qualified Student Scholarship Organization are listed in the Georgia Code Title 20 Chapter 2A. If you have any additional issues or questions, please refer the Georgia Department of Revenue website.
27. Is the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program a government agency? What is its role?
No. Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program, Inc. is a non-profit corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia, is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, and is recognized by the Georgia Department of Education as a qualified student scholarship organization under Georgia law. GOAL, not the state of Georgia, provides scholarships to students at its participating schools. In addition to saving its participating schools the trouble of creating and operating their own student scholarship organizations, GOAL serves as an information clearinghouse; provides marketing information, insights, and training to the GOAL Participating Schools; provides extensive contribution and scholarship processing to its donors, participating schools, and scholarship families; monitors legal and regulatory developments; shares best practices among participating schools; solicits contributions from corporations; promotes the program in the CPA and financial community; and encourages participating schools to direct as much financial aid as possible to low- and middle-income families who otherwise would not have a choice to attend a Georgia private school.
28. What is GOAL's tax ID number?
GOAL's tax ID number (FEIN) is 65-1280229.
29. How can I learn more about GOAL?
GOAL is the most transparent SSO in Georgia. On its website you can read all about GOAL's contribution and scholarship award results, its participating schools, its Board members, and all other aspects of its operations. GOAL also operates Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts.