Tax Credit Scholarship

Reduce Your State Income Taxes…Quadruple Your Donation…Help Students in Need

The Invest in Kids Tax Credit Scholarship Program provides Illinois children access to new scholarships that could cover up to 100% of tuition – depending on the level of need.  Those who contribute to this program will receive an Illinois state tax credit equal to 75 percent of their contribution.  This is a great opportunity to support Catholic education and significantly reduce or eliminate your State of Illinois Tax liability at the same time.
Important Facts

• Donations can come from Individuals or Corporations
• Benefit is a Tax Credit, not just a Tax Deduction
• Individuals can direct their contribution to the participating school of their choice
• The tax credit is non-refundable, but can be carried forward for up to five years
• Saint Paul the Apostle has 108 students on the wait list for this program.

Empower Illinois

Empower Illinois is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit SGO responsible for serving approximately 80% of participating private schools statewide; including all of Illinois’ Catholic Dioceses, most area Jewish schools, Lutheran Schools, secular schools and many more. Empower Illinois is responsible for:

• Processing donations from individuals and corporations;
• Accepting scholarship applications from students/families; and
• Distributing scholarships to eligible students/families in accordance with the law.

Examples:
Family A has a combined household income of $141,000.  The Illinois income tax rate is 4.95%, so that a family will pay $6,979.50 in state income tax throughout the year.  If Family A donates $9.306 to Saint Paul the Apostle School via Empower Illinois, they would receive a 75% income tax credit ($6,979.50), effectively donating only $2,326.50, but our Parish School would receive four times that amount which would send up to 4 students in need to our Parish School.

Family B has a combined household income of $250,000.  The Illinois income tax rate is 4.95%, so that a family will pay $12,375 in state income tax throughout the year.  If Family B donates $16,500 to Saint Paul the Apostle School via Empower Illinois, they would receive a 75% income tax credit ($12,375), effectively donating only $4,125, but our Parish School would receive four times that amount which would send up to 8 students in need to our Parish School.

Family A has a combined household income of $500,000.  The Illinois income tax rate is 4.95%, so that a family will pay $24,750 in state income tax throughout the year.  If Family A donates $33,000 to Saint Paul the Apostle School via Empower Illinois, they would receive a 75% income tax credit ($24,750), effectively donating only $8,250, but our Parish School would receive four times that amount which would send up to 16 students in need to our Parish School.

Contact your tax professional as to how the program may benefit you specifically.

Donor Process:

1. Register:  Donors need an account on mytax.illinois.gov before applying for a tax credit.  This can take up to 10 days and involves a mailed Personal Information Number (PIN).
2. Reserve:  Donors can reserve their tax credit with the Illinois Department of Revenue.  Make sure to pick “Empower Illinois” as the Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO).  Select Region 3, that is the region for Saint Paul the Apostle School.
3. Donate:  Once you receive the confirmation of your tax credit from the Illinois Department of Revenue, you have up to 60 days to make your donation to Employer Illinois.  Individuals can direct their contribution to Saint Paul the Apostle School.

If you have questions or require assistance in donating to Saint Paul the Apostle School, e-mail taxcredit@stpauljoliet.com or call 815-725-3390.  The Empower Illinois Team is also available to assist at info@empowerillinois.org or (309) 644-4524.

For more information visit: https://empowerillinois.org/donors/

Illinois Department of Revenue Invest in Kids Act Bulletin