School Tax Credit is not a tax-deductible contribution. It’s much better than that! Tax Credit is a portion of your state income tax that you may pay directly to the Public School Of Your Choice rather than to Arizona Department of Revenue. In turn, the School is bound to spend tax credit monies for student Extracurricular Activities and/or Character Education Programs. The credit allowed is in lieu of any deduction pursuant to section 170 of the internal revenue code for charitable contributions, which would also be taken for Arizona taxes purposes. In other words, you cannot take the deduction on your state income tax return and the credit as well.

Download and print the tax credit form, attach your payment made payable to Wickenburg Unified School District, and either drop it by the office or mail it to our office. Please be sure to indicate on the form how you would like your donation to be used, if you have no real preference please choose “no preference.” Also, you may split up your donation to different activities and even different schools, just indicate the dollar amount you’d like to go to each location. Upon receipt of your tax credit form and payment, the district will issue to you a pre-numbered receipt. Please keep this as a record of your donation.

A.R.S. §15-342.24 requires each district school board to determine which activities are extra-curricular and what fees will be levied. It is important to note that a least some monetary amount must be levied to participate in order for the credit to be available. Extracurricular activity means a school sponsored activity that requires enrolled students to pay a fee in order to participate, such as but not limited to band uniforms, equipment or uniforms for varsity athletic activities, and scientific lab materials. A new change in law states: In state or out-of state trips that are solely for competitive events are considered extracurricular. Extracurricular activity does not include any trips or events that are recreational, amusement, or tourist activities. Generally, any educational or recreational activities that supplement the educational program of the school are extracurricular activities.

A character education program is defined in A.R.S. §15-719. Under this statute each district may develop its own course of study for each grade. At a minimum, the character education program must include instruction in the definition and application of at least six of the following character traits: Truthfulness, Responsibility, Compassion, Diligence, Sincerity, Trustworthiness, Respect, Attentiveness, Obedience, Orderliness, Forgiveness, and Virtue.

The district will mail to you a pre-numbered receipt. You will need this when you file your 2009 Arizona state tax return. Show it to your tax preparer, which should have an AZ form 322 to report your credit. You are able to carry credit forward up to five years. You may also use the donation as a charitable deduction.

Mail your check or money-order payable to Wickenburg Unified School District to 40 West Yavapai Street; Wickenburg, AZ 85390.