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Frequently Asked Questions

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Individual Taxpayer Support

You will be helping families, children and Jewish day schools all at the same time – and it won’t cost you a dime! A minimum of 90 percent of JTO funds go to Jewish day school scholarships.

Based on your Arizona state tax liability for tax year 2025 you can take a dollar-for-dollar tax credit up to $1,535 for an individual and $3,062 for couples filing joint returns.

Yes, the JTO is happy to receive bequests. Depending on the amount, you have the opportunity to leave a Legacy gift creating a scholarship fund in your name that will continue to support Jewish education for years to come with parameters that you can define. Contact the JTO office for more details.

Up until April 15, 2026 or when you file your taxes, whichever comes first.

You can provide your 2026 tax credit support starting January 1, 2026 through April 15, 2027.

There is no minimum amount. For tax year 2025, you can receive a tax credit for your entire tax liability up to $1,535 for individuals or $3,062 for couples filing joint returns.  Corporations can give more and receive a larger tax credit. Call our office for details 480-634-4926.

Yes, if your employer offers its employees this service. Click here for the form your employer will need. Most payroll deductions are done on the calendar year, so the deductions from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025 will be for the 2025 tax credit.

No. Statute requires that contributions to STOs be made by cash or payroll withholding. A qualified charitable distribution, which satisfies the federal required minimum distribution, is made directly by the trustee to the charitable organization. Since the contribution is made by a third-party trustee of the IRA and not the individual, the contribution does not qualify for the tax credit.

All Arizona taxpayers!

Yes, we are required by Arizona law to obtain certain information when we are given support.

You can still support the JTO and there is not a maximum. The JTO is a registered 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

YES. You will receive a tax credit receipt via email. The email will come from info@jewishtuition.org.

YES! You can take the Qualified Charitable Organization Tax Credit, the Public School Tax Credit, the Qualified Foster Care Charitable Organization Tax Credit and the Veterans Tax Credit. Visit azdor.gov for more information on tax credits.

You need to consult your tax professional for questions about federal taxes, or questions pertaining to your specific situation.

Students attending Arizona Jewish day schools may receive JTO scholarships.

The law specifically states that to take the tax credit a parent or guardian cannot recommend their own dependent(s), or agree to swap donations with another taxpayer to benefit either taxpayer’s own dependent.

Yes you may divide your support for more than one student or school, you will need to call the JTO office and staff will be happy to help you.

Corporate Support

YES! All C corporations, S corporations and LLCs that file as S corporations can take the credit if they do not pass their liability through to their shareholders or partners.  Insurance companies can also take the credit.  Matching grants and JTO payroll deductions can be set up as well. Call 480-634-4926 for details.

All corporate support provides need-based scholarships to low-income families and cannot be used for student recommendations. However, corporate funds can be recommended for a school fund, but will still go to provide need-based scholarships for students from low-income families attending that school.

Applicants

The JTO offers three types of scholarships: corporate, switcher and original. Fill out the application form and the JTO will be able to determine the best program(s) for you.

Applying to the JTO is free of charge.

Applications are accepted through the JTO website through the JTO website. Applying through the applicant page is free of charge.

In order to receive any award from the JTO, all recipient families must submit an application. Even though your child has funds recommended for them, by law, an application must be submitted.

The state requires an application for every scholarship awarded, and a scholarship must be awarded for each year.  While there is not a specific deadline, JTO awards are issued on a first-come first-serve basis. Applications open in January and the JTO starts awarding scholarships in May.  As long as there is money available, the JTO will continue to award scholarships.

While the JTO’s focus is on need-based scholarships, our criteria allows for most families to receive some type of award. The only exception to this is if your child receives funds from Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account, or ESA. By law, a student cannot receive both an ESA scholarship and an STO scholarship.

Everyone with a child attending an Arizona Jewish day school should apply for a JTO scholarship using the simple application process.

The JTO is happy to help you. Simply fill out the application in its entirety and we will determine the program(s) for which you are eligible.

The JTO cannot provide you with the names of supporters who have recommended your child – it is against Arizona law.  However, we can provide you with total amounts and are happy to do so. Simply login to your applicant account and scroll down to recommendations.

There are several key concepts that will help you when talking to potential supporters that may recommend your child or children.

  1. Supporting the JTO through Arizona’s private school tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar credit against an Arizona tax liability, it is not a charitable donation that would only lower their taxable income. This means it’s a credit against money owed or already paid through deductions, so it becomes a net zero impact on the supporter – basically it doesn’t cost anything for them to support your child’s education.
  2. The maximum amount of the 2025 tax credits are $3,062 for couples filing jointly and $1,535 for single tax filers. Beginning in January 2026, the JTO can start accepting support for the 2026 tax year.
  3. The 2025 support must be given by April 15, 2026 or whenever the supporter files their taxes – whichever comes first.  For 2026 support it must be given by April 15, 2027, or whenever the supporter files their taxes – whichever comes first. Supporters must give to the JTO before they file their taxes.
If someone from out of state has an Arizona state tax liability, yes they can take the Arizona credit against that liability. Also, someone from out of state can make a charitable non-credit contribution to the JTO and recommend those funds, but they need to check with their tax professional regarding claiming it as a tax deduction. The JTO is still obligated to abide by Arizona law that a child must meet other criteria beyond a recommendation to receive a scholarship.

Be confident in your knowledge of the tax credit and how the JTO works and then make a plan. Consider who you want to ask, how you want to ask (phone, email, letter, social media, in person) and when you are going to ask.  It is never too soon to ask, you can always offer to follow up at a time closer to your contact’s decision time, but then make sure you do follow up.

Create an “elevator speech” for your ask and include key points that will resonate with your contact.  Such as the importance of Jewish education, that the tax credit is dollar-for-dollar and won’t cost them any money, or any variable that you feel would be important/relevant to the person you are asking to support your child.

By going to your applicant page you can create a personal URL that you can forward to your contacts and request recommendations for your child/children.

Remember, not everyone you ask will agree to support your child.  Just thank them for any consideration and move on to your next contact. You never know, they may say “no” one year and “yes” the following year.

If your child is entering kindergarten, or has attended a public school for at least 90 days during the application year, it is beneficial for you to apply for a scholarship. There are specific funds, called “switcher” funds to provide scholarships for children entering kindergarten or “switching” from public school to private school. However, this must be done in the first year of the student attending private school. Once a child receives “switcher” funded scholarships, they are eligible to continue receiving scholarships from this source as long as they remain in private school.