Do you pay Georgia state taxes?  Would you like to redirect a portion of those taxes to Gatewood instead of the state of Georgia? 

The Georgia Education Expense Credit (House Bill 1133), Georgia has joined the five other states that are using tax credit scholarship programs to provide children from low-income families greater opportunities for access to learning at private institutions like Gatewood.

Gatewood School has just been approved as Qualified School, meeting all the necessary requirements as defined by the State of Georgia. Participation in this program will provide additional financial resources to Gatewood’s financial aid program available to new students and their families. We are working together with the Georgia “GOAL” Scholarship Program, a state-approved student scholarship organization.

Here's how to get started redirecting your tax dollars:

Step 1. Redirect your tax dollars to Gatewood through the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program

Send the following items directly to Cristi McElhenney at Gatewood Schools, 139 Phillips Drive, Eatonton, GA 31024:

1.  A completed and notarized* GOAL Contribution & Authorization Form 

2.  A blank copy of page 2 of Form IT-QEE-TP1 pre-approval form, signed by you at Part C

3.  A check made payable to “Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program” in the amount of your contribution

Gatewood Schools will obtain Georgia Department of Revenue approval for you to allow the redirection of your taxes to GOAL.  Your paperwork and check will then be forwarded to GOAL, whereupon GOAL will process your contribution and send you an acknowledgement form.   

*Please note: If you are not able to get your GOAL Contribution & Authorization Form notarized, you will receive your approved Form IT-QEE-TP1 directly from the Georgia DOR in the mail.  You must send this form to Cristi McElhenney at Gatewood Schools as soon as you receive it (within 30 days of approval).

Step 2. Claim the credit

When you file your income tax returns in 2010, you will receive a credit against your Georgia income taxes for the amount of your contribution and a charitable deduction on your federal income taxes. You may still file your returns electronically if you elect to take this credit.

GOAL will send you a Form IT-QEE-SSO1 contribution acknowledgement form to be filed with your taxes

GOAL will send taxpayer filing guidance early next year and/or will post taxpayer filing guidance on its website

Timing / Deadline

To participate in this program and qualify for a 2010 tax credit, your approved Form IT-QEE-TP1 and your check must be postmarked on their way to GOAL by December 31^st.  However, in order to meet this deadline, please provide your paperwork and check to Gatewood Schools by December 1, 2010.  The sooner you contribute the better, as the tax credits are going fast at this point in the year.  Thank you for helping deserving students attend Gatewood Schools!

Generally, amounts contributed to the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program will be held in a general fund from which scholarships will be awarded to deserving students at the discretion of the GOAL Board of Directors. However, as an alternative to donating to the general scholarship fund, donors can designate that their contributions be used to provide scholarships to students who desire to attend one or more specific private schools.

About the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program

GOAL is proud that 103 of Georgia’s best private K-12 schools have elected to participate in the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program. The GOAL Participating Schools are located throughout Georgia and serve a diverse cross-section of families and communities.

For more information on the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program, visit them online at http://www.goalscholarship.org/