Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

Note: The State of Ohio Tax Credit Scholarship initiative is subject to change by the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The following information is valid as of January 19, 2023

The Ohio General Assembly established a program whereby Ohioans can receive a 100% tax credit against Ohio income tax liability for cash contributions to certified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) that grant scholarships to students. The maximum credit amount is currently $750 (if you file "Married Filing Jointly," you can receive a credit for up to $1,500, but each spouse must make an individual contribution of $750—two separate transactions).

Contributing to the SEHS Scholarship Granting Organization

The easiest way to contribute to the SEHS SGO is on our website! You can fill out our safe and secure contribution form in just minutes. You will receive an immediate electronic confirmation of your contribution for your records upon submission. You will also receive a tax receipt in the mail from the SEHS SGO to use when filing your 2023 State of Ohio income taxes and claiming your tax credit.

You can also print and mail a contribution form, available for download here. You must make checks payable to the "SEHS SGO" to claim the contribution on your 2023 taxes. Checks for 2023 contributions must be dated by December 31, 2023, and received by January 5, 2024.

Tax Credit Information

The information below is general in nature and is not intended to be used by anyone as tax advice. Please consult a tax professional that is aware of your personal tax situation about this credit and your potential use of it.

You will claim this credit when you file your Ohio state income tax return. The nonrefundable credit will reduce your state tax liability (the amount you owe in taxes). A nonrefundable tax credit limits your tax benefit to no more than what you owe in taxes. The amount of the tax credit you can claim equals 100% of the amount you contribute, up to $750 per taxpayer.

If you and your spouse file "Married Filing Jointly," you can receive a credit for up to $1,500 on your joint state income tax return. If filing together and donating more than $750, please make two separate contributions - one for $750 in one spouse's name and the remainder, up to $750, in the other spouse's name.

1. Review your tax liability from last year (2022 Ohio IT 1040, line 8c) to help estimate the amount of your tax liability for 2023, against which the credit can apply if desired. Please remember that the maximum credit amount is currently $750 ($1500 if "Married Filing Jointly").

2. Make your contribution online on our website. You may also complete a contribution form and mail a check. The SEHS SGO will send all contributors the required tax receipt after making their gift.

3. Taxpayers claim the credit when they complete their tax return by writing in their contribution amount on the designated lines of the Ohio individual income tax return and attaching their tax receipt from the SEHS SGO. You will not receive the benefit of the SGO tax credit if you do not have a tax liability to the State of Ohio or have other Ohio tax credits that reduce your Ohio tax liability to zero.