Tax Credit Window for Priority Application

Dec. 6, 2023 - Feb. 5, 2024*


To apply: go to www.parentalchoice.ok.gov

*Please note: although the priority window has closed on this application, applications will still be accepted throughout the year.


If you would like to be informed on general tax credit updates and when the BK Sign Up Fair Registration opens,

please click the button below and fill out the short form:


Keep Me Updated!

Helpful Information from The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Program

February 7, 2024


Now that the priority window for the Parental Choice Tax Credit Application has closed, the Program has released some helpful information:

  • In instances where the Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) generator tool showed $0 tuition for the Spring and/or Fall semester(s). and the form has been re-generated with the correct tuition, Taxpayers who have already applied with an EVF with the correct student's name and date of birth, do not need to reapply, even if they have received a new EVF from the school.
  • Last week, notifications were sent to many Priority Applicants (eligible students who are members of a Household in which the federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) does not exceed $150,000) with a processable application. There are some applications where the EVF had no Spring or Fall tuition/fee amounts, duplicate applications, or applications with information that has not been verified. The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Program is working to get those reviewed as quickly as possible.
  • Non-priority Applicants who apply during the priority consideration period will receive an acknowledgment of submission of their application but will not be notified of approval status until a later date.
  • Since the application and supporting documents include Protected Personal Information (PPI), The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Program is unable to share information with schools. Please note, the school may request updates directly from you, the Applicant/Taxpayer.   
  • Per HB 1934, the tax credit is issued in two equal installments, each of which will be half of the total of the Spring and Fall tuition and fees, even if the Spring and Fall tuition and fees are not equal. This may result in instances where the Spring disbursement is not equal to Spring tuition and fees. In these instances, we recommend the school and Taxpayer work together to determine the best path forward.
  • The exception to this is for students graduating this Spring or beginning school this Fall, who will only receive half of the credit, issued in one disbursement, during the semester for which the student is enrolled.
  • Schools will not need to confirm enrollment prior to the checks being sent, but participating schools will be contacted mid-year to confirm student enrollment.
  • The first checks are expected to be mailed in February. You will receive notice upon sending.


Have additional questions? Please reach out to help@parentalchoice.ok.gov or call (918) 554-5440 for further assistance.

Merit Initiates App Access for Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

January 26, 2024

This week, parents or guardians who have been informed about receiving a tax credit award due to a successful application are starting to get a follow-up email from Merit. This email includes instructions on how to create an account with Merit to accept the tax credit award and monitor when the checks are issued. If you're setting up your account for the first time and logging in, you might need to select 'reset my password' to create your initial login credentials.

Parent/Guardian Personal Accounts with Merit

January 15, 2024

Bishop Kelley received information this week that Merit has not yet sent out emails containing digital account credentials to allow parents/guardians to create a personalized login. This will soon serve as a way to track the award amount and disbursement process for the tax credit(s) they received.


Although no precise date was given, Merit indicated an intention to send out this information in the near future. With the completion target date being moved to Monday, Feb. 5, 2024, for application with a federal AGI of $150,000 or less for the 2022 tax year, Merit expressed that they are working diligently to get the credentials set up, processed and emails disbursed.

Next Steps after Successful Tax Credit Application

January 5, 2024

From the OTC/Merit to Parents/Guardians:

  • If the taxpayer's application is approved, the taxpayer will receive two separate emails. The first email will notify the applicant of the application's approval. The second email will be sent to set up an account to track the award amount from the State and track the process of sending the award to the school.  Both emails will be sent from Merit. (See Handbook, page 8, for instructions). 
  • Please note: the school has no visibility into the award distribution from the time the Enrollment Verification Form is sent by the school to the OTC at the parent/guardian's request and when the check arrives in the name of the taxpayer to the school. This set-up is a control which maintains the State's direct relationship with the taxpayer for the credit and not with the school. 
  • Here is a helpful FAQ list from the OTC website including how and when checks will be mailed to Bishop Kelley.


From Bishop Kelley to Parents/Guardians:

  • For Spring 2024 Tuition, Bishop Kelley asks families to continue with their current payment plan. This is very helpful to the school to have a stable cash flow for operations. 
  • When the OTC checks are received, Bishop Kelley will contact families to let them know the checks are ready for endorsement.
  • Bishop Kelley will apply the credit to the remaining open tuition balance for Spring 2024 and issue a refund for any over payments.
  • Bishop Kelley does not know when the checks will arrive at the school. Our estimate is that those in the priority group may receive the credit by February 2024. 
  • The OTC did contact BK earlier this week to confirm our mailing address, so that is a positive sign in preparation for reception of tax credit checks arriving at the school.

Christmas Break

December 20, 2023

Bishop Kelley High School is on Christmas Break from Wednesday, December 20, 2023 - Wednesday, January 3, 2024.

During the Break:

  • Enrollment Verification Form requests will be uploaded to the OTC/Merit on Friday, December 22,
    and again on         Thursday, December 28.
  • The "Keep Me Updated" email account will be monitored periodically throughout the break. 


A very Blessed Christmas to you and your family!



Bishop Kelley Tax Credit Sign-Up Fair

December 7, 2023


The Tax Credit application successfully opened yesterday, December 6. For most families, the most efficient way to receive the tax credit is to apply directly online with the OTC at https://www.parentalchoice.ok.gov/.


For families who may need more assistance with tax documentation or language translation, BK will host a Tax Credit Sign-Up Fair at the BK Dining Hall this weekend:

  • Friday, December 8 (3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.)
  • Saturday, December 9 (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
Register for the Fair

The BK Tax Credit Sign-Up Fair was opened to other Tulsa-Area Catholic Schools and three schools have chosen to participate. Families enrolled at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic School, Monte Cassino School, and Cascia Hall Preparatory School are also eligible to participate.


Please contact questions@bishopkelley.org with any questions about the Tax Credit application process or the Sign-Up Fair.

En la mayoría de los casos, la forma más eficiente de recibir el crédito es que una familia lo solicite directamente en línea con la OTC en https://www.parentalchoice.ok.gov/.


Para las familias que puedan necesitar más ayuda con la documentación tributaria o la traducción de idiomas, BK organizará una feria de inscripción de crédito fiscal en el comedor de BK este fin de semana:

  • Viernes 8 de diciembre (3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.)
  • Sábado 9 de diciembre (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
Regístrese para la Feria

La Feria de inscripción de crédito fiscal de BK se abrió a otras escuelas católicas del área de Tulsa y tres escuelas decidieron participar. Las familias matriculadas en La escuela católica Ss. Peter and Paul, la escuela Monte Cassino y la escuela preparatoria Cascia Hall también son elegibles para participar.


Comuníquese con questions@bishopkelley.org si tiene alguna pregunta sobre el crédito fiscal o la feria de inscripción.

Parental Choice Tax Credit Opens Today at 2 p.m.

December 6, 2023


Update from BK:


Resources:


Tax Credit Sign-Up Fair:

  • For families that may need more assistance with tax documentation or language translation, BK will host a Tax Credit Sign-Up Fair at the Dining Hall on Friday, December 8 (3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.) and Saturday, December 9 (10 a.m. - 2 p.m.). 
  • More information on the Sign-Up Fair will be made available on tomorrow, Thursday, December 7.
  • The BK Tax Credit Sign-Up Fair was opened to other Tulsa-Area Catholic Schools and three schools have chosen to participate. Families enrolled at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic School, Monte Cassino School, and Cascia Hall Preparatory School are also eligible to participate.


Thank you for your continued patience, understanding and prayers for the OTC, school leaders, and BK. We rely on the help of your prayers!

Up-to-the-minute Information on OTC and BK Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) Process

December 1, 2023


Update from the OTC:

  • Today, the OTC reached out to schools to acknowledge the challenges schools have faced with utilizing the CSV upload feature of the Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) Generator Tool and extend its sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused. 
  • To ensure that the system correctly reads all data, the OTC has committed to a manual data review by the Parental Choice Tax Credit (PCTC) Team to ensure a 100% success rate. 
  • This process is designed to identify and rectify any errors that could potentially impede a seamless process. 
  • The OTC has asked schools to refrain from re-uploading EVF information if parents/guardians have not yet received it. Instead, their data team is reviewing all submitted data to correct errors.


Update from BK:

  • As of yesterday, November 30, 2023, at 4:15 p.m., BK had successfully uploaded all family data to the OTC portal. 
  • Unfortunately, there is no indication to schools from the OTC/Merit if the EVF submissions they have made on behalf of students have been accepted and processed. We need visibility to offer an explanation to families if they receive their EVF.
  • On Thursday, November 30th, Merit indicated the EVF should be generated 2-3 hours after data is received from the school. This timeline may be extended with the new approach of data review.


Resources available to you: 


Thank you for your continued patience, understanding and prayers for the OTC, school leaders, and BK. We rely on the help of your prayers!

BREAKING NEWS: OTC Delays Application Submissions to Wednesday, December 6

December 1, 2023


The OTC has posted a DELAY in implementing the Parental Choice Tax Credit. The application window will now begin at 2:00 p.m. on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6. The portal WILL NOT OPEN on FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, as advertised. The 60-day priority window will now extend from Wednesday, December 6, 2023 - Monday, February 5, 2024. More information is available on the OTC website.

OTC Technical Issues

November 30, 2023


As of yesterday, Nov. 29, 2023, BK successfully uploaded all family data to the OTC portal.


However, we are currently receiving multiple calls and emails that BK parents/guardians have not yet received their EVF from the OTC. Additionally, some who have received their EVF have incorrect data listed, such as an incorrect birthdate for the student.


Action Taken:

  • BK has contacted OTC and Merit, who have identified the issue within the OTC IT system.

Next Steps:

  • Once the OTC system is fixed, BK will RESUBMIT ALL DATA for families who requested an EVF on our website.
  • Families may receive a second EVF; ignore if it's a repeat.

Confirmation and Communication:

  • After BK (re)submits your family's information, you'll receive a confirmation email.
  • Direct BK-related correspondence to questions@bishopkelley.org.

Timeline:

  • BK is working to ensure families receive the EVF by tomorrow morning.

Resources available to you: 


We appreciate your understanding for variables beyond our control. Please join us in praying for a successful process and peace of heart for all involved as we navigate the eventual problems.

Parental Choice Tax Credit Webinar - Wednesday, Nov. 29th, 4-5 p.m. CT

November 29, 2023


Join us for a webinar organized by the Office of Catholic Schools and the Oklahoma Council for Public Affairs to explore the benefits of the Parental Choice Tax Credit and learn how you can actively participate.

Details:
Date: Wednesday, November 29th
Time: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. CT
Platform: Zoom Webinar
Webinar Link: Click here to join


For those interested in joining by phone, please use the following number: +16699006833,,86180395838#



Registration Link: Click here to register and receive event reminder emails.

Enrollment Verification Form Requests & Next Steps

November 29, 2023


Now is the time to submit a Enrollment Verification Form Request through our website. Once completed, Bishop Kelley will submit your child(ren)’s enrollment information to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. We will provide an email acknowledgement of your request and a detailed list of next steps within 24 - 48 hours of your submission.


The Enrollment Verification Form will be sent from the email address no-reply@merits.com. We recommend you approve (or “whitelist”) this address in your email account to ensure it does not go to junk mail or a spam folder.


As part of the OTC enrollment verification process, Bishop Kelley is required to itemize the qualifying eligible expenses related to both the Spring and Fall 2024 semesters.


  • The Spring expenses will align with your 2023_24 tuition statement, which nets any discounts (parish, tuition assistance, Go/Veritas and LNH).
  • Due to the timing of the enrollment verification, the school will submit the standard tuition rate exclusive of any discounts (except LNH) for the Fall semester. Bishop Kelley will continue to evaluate discounts during our normal cycle, which is in the May timeframe. Any adjustments will be reflected in your 2024_25 tuition statement.


What are the next steps in the process?

How It Works: You will receive an email directly from the OTC with the Enrollment Verification Form (EVF). This form is not generated for the taxpayer by the school. You must upload a copy of the EVF for each child at the time of your application for the tax credit. Taxpayers must apply for the tax credit directly on the OTC website https://www.parentalchoice.ok.gov/ beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, December 1, 2023. 


The tax credit is given on a first-come, first-served basis, with a priority window for families with a 2022 Annual Gross Income (AGI) of $150,000 or less from December1, 2023 (8:30 a.m.) - February 1, 2024. 


The Resource Center of the OTC website provides helpful information to taxpayers about how to apply for the tax credit in English and Spanish.


Self-service application through the OTC website is the most efficient way to apply for the credit. For any families who wish to receive assistance in completing their application or who do not file taxes and will need a notarized Form 591-C to be eligible for the credit, Bishop Kelley will host a Tax Credit Sign-up Fair on December 8th & 9th. Registration for an appointment time at the BK Sign-up Fair will be available on our website on Monday, December 4th. 


How will you know if you have received the credit? (See English Handbook & Spanish Handbook, p. 6-7)

After you have successfully completed your application and the OTC has validated your information:

  • Notification:
  • Households with 2022 AGI of $150,000 or below - will be notified within 14 days if they have received the credit
  • Households with 2022 AGI above $150,000 - will receive acknowledgment of their application but will not be notified of approval status until after February 1, 2024
  • Reception of two emails to set up two different accounts:
  • Account from the OTC with the Parental Choice Tax Credit Program 
  • Account with Merit
  • Purpose: These accounts allow taxpayers to learn about program details, view their approved tax credits, and track when checks have been mailed. Each account will require a username and password and will have mobile device access. 


How will you collect the tax credit? (English Handbook & Spanish Handbook, p. 13)

  • Checks with the credit amount will be mailed to the school in the name of the taxpayer who applied for the credit in two installments. 
  • Taxpayers will be required to come in person to the school to sign the checks over to the school or to collect the check from the school if tuition and fees have already been paid. 
  • Bishop Kelley will inform school families once more detailed information on this process is released from the OTC. 


Where can you find more information?

Action Needed: Opt-in to the Parental Choice Tax Credit at Bishop Kelley

November 14, 2023


Bishop Kelley asks all families who wish to participate in the tax credit at BK to Opt-in by completing a Google Form (in English or Spanish) available on our landing page website. It is important to BK that we receive specific permission from parent(s)/guardian(s) to share their information with the State of Oklahoma.


How it Works: You will receive an email directly from the OTC with the Enrollment Verification Form (EVF). Although "Step 2" in the "How it Works" process indicates the school will email the taxpayer - it has been clarified that the school generates the EVF information to the OTC, and the OTC portal (run by the company Merit) will generate the EVF to the taxpayer. You must upload a copy of the EVF for each child at the time of your application for the tax credit. Taxpayers must apply for the tax credit directly on the OTC website www.parentalchoice.ok.gov beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, December 1, 2023. The tax credit is given on a first-come, first-served basis, with a priority window for families with a 2022 Annual Gross Income (AGI) of $150,000 or less from Dec.1, 2023 (8:30 a.m.) - February 1, 2024.



Taxpayer Requirements for application (See handbook, p. 4 & Rules, p. 3-4):


  • For all applicants:
  • Taxpayer name, SSN or ITIN, address, and email
  • Student Name, SSN or ITIN
  • Enrollment Verification Form (EVF) for each child
  • If the parent/guardian wishes a different taxpayer to apply for the credit, the parent/guardian must forward the EVF to the taxpayer/applicant and give the taxpayer/applicant a signed Parental Consent Form (this form not yet released from the OTC).
  • If the family/taxpayer filed an OK tax return in 2022:
  • Only the AGI from 2022 tax return is needed
  • If the family/taxpayer DID NOT file a 2022 OK tax return but DID file a Federal tax return:
  • Scan IRS 1040 into the application
  • If the family did not file a tax return in 2022:
  • Complete form 591-C
  • Notarize form 591-C
  • Scan notarized 591-C into the application
  • If the family is undocumented, they are not eligible for the tax credit.
  • Apply for financial assistance through the school’s tuition assistance program


The Resource Center of the OTC website provides helpful information to taxpayers about how to apply for the tax credit in English and Spanish.


Self-service application through the OTC website is the most efficient way to apply for the credit. For any families who wish to receive assistance in completing their application or who do not file taxes and will need a notarized Form 591-C to be eligible for the credit, Bishop Kelley will host a Tax Credit Sign-up Fair on December 8th & 9th. Details on this sign-up fair will be forthcoming.


Please see the OTC website FAQ section for answers to specific questions.

Bishop Kelley Submits School Participation Form

November 7, 2023


Bishop Kelley has successfully completed and submitted the required School Participation Form, which is the first step in this process. Our school's form is now being reviewed and validated. Our primary and secondary contacts will be granted access to the Enrollment Verification Form generator tool upon validation. 


No action is required of our families at this time. Please know we remain committed to providing proactive communication and creating a streamlined process, making it easy for our parents to take advantage of the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit. This first step brings us closer to that goal. We will keep you updated as we move forward in this program.


Next Steps:

  • OTC's Parental Choice Tax Credit application will become available to taxpayers on December 1, 2023. Taxpayers must apply online at www.parentalchoice.ok.gov. Exact details of what information will be needed from schools and families to apply will be forthcoming from the OTC in the near future. 
  • For families who would like assistance to apply for the tax credit, save the date for Bishop Kelley High School's Parental Choice Tax Credit Sign Up Fair on December 8 - 9, 2023. To receive updates and information as event details are finalized, please click the "Keep Me Updated!" button below. 
  • BK Administrators continue to distill information as we receive it and will continue to provide updates as they become available. 
  • Additional information will be shared on this page, so check back frequently.
  • We are diligently working to update our FAQs as we receive questions via the questions@bishopkelley.org email address while adding these questions and answers to the FAQs. Please note, if you email questions@bishopkelley.org you will receive an individual response as well. 

The best way for families to sign up for the credit is to do so online at:


www.parentalchoice.ok.gov



For families who would like additional help walking through the sign-up process, please

SAVE THE DATE:

Parental Choice Tax Credit Sign Up Fair at Bishop Kelley High School


Tentative Details

Bishop Kelley is still in the planning stages of this event, so details are subject to change.

However, we anticipate the fair will look something like this:


Hosted by BKHS, join us

Friday, December 8, 2023 from 3:00 - 8:00 PM

or

Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Bishop Kelley Dining Hall

3905 South Hudson Ave, Tulsa, OK 74135


Who can come to the BK Sign Up Fair?

  • Families with BK students or rising freshmen
  • Families at (Pre)K-8 Catholic schools, Diocesan or Private, pending the school's participation in the fair - details forthcoming.
  • Families whose 9-11th grade students will transfer to Bishop Kelley for the 2024-2025 school year.


What to expect at the BK Sign Up Fair:

  • Information and education on what this tax credit is, how to apply, and how to secure your funding.
  • Computer kiosks for families to register online.
  • Access to digital or hard copies of needed paperwork.
  • Volunteers from various language groups who have been trained can assist families during the Sign Up Fair.
  • Representatives from participating Tulsa-area Catholic schools.


If you would like to be informed when the BK Sign Up Fair Registration opens,

please click the button below and fill out the short form:

Keep Me Updated!

Countdown to Tax Credit Sign-Up Fair at Bishop Kelley

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Rules from the OTC have arrived!

October 25, 2023


To view the full OTC Rules document, please click the button below.


Highlighted within the document are a few key takeaways:

  • The portal window will be open December 1, 2023 - February 1, 2024. This gives a 60-day window for priority consideration.
  • PreK-12th Grade is clearly stated.
  • One application per family, rather than one application per child.
  • Schools will NOT collect Social Security Numbers from students.
  • Rather than the previously mentioned "affidavit," schools will submit an "enrollment verification form," provided by the state through the portal. Items needed for this are outlined in the Rules document.
  • Schools will electronically verify that funds were paid toward the tuition by November 1st of each year. Items asked for are outlined in the Rules document.

 

Not clarified in the OTC Rules Document:

  • Months payments will be made.
  • Given the priority window was pushed back, acceptance announcements will not be until March at the earliest, which could push disbursement to April/May.
OTC RULES as of 10.25.23

Next Steps:

  • BK Administrators are distilling this information and will have an update soon regarding how this new information applies to Bishop Kelley specifically.
  • Emails will be sent to those who have requested more information.
  • Additional information will also be shared on this page so check back frequently.
  • We are diligently working to update our FAQs as we receive questions via the questions@bishopkelley.org email address while also adding these questions and answers to the FAQs. Please note, if you email questions@bishopkelley.org you will receive an individual response as well.

A Letter from BK President Sister Mary Hanah Doak, RSM

October 6, 2023


Dear Bishop Kelley Community,


Beginning in January 2024 will be an exciting opportunity for families to take advantage of the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit that will allow parents & guardians to redirect tax dollars to tuition at Bishop Kelley High School. Also known as House Bill 1934, this private school tax credit was signed into law on May 25, 2023, by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and will be effective beginning with the tax year 2024. The Oklahoma Tax Commission is working to finalize details and we hope to have more information for you at the end of October.


Tax Credit details: Currently, households earning $150,000 or less will have preference on a first come, first served basis to access Oklahoma's designated, capped amount of $150M for tax year 2024 that has been allocated to fund the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit. The credit amount for which each child is eligible is determined by the total federal Adjusted Gross Income of the student's household during the second preceding tax year (i.e., a tax credit received in 2024 is based on family AGI in the tax year 2022), ranging from a credit of $5,000 - $7,500. To apply, there will be a multi-step process involving the family, the school, and the OTC which will include an online application.  The OTC currently states that the window to apply for the tax credit is December 8, 2023 - January 22, 2024. More details can be found directly on the Oklahoma Tax Commission Parental Choice Tax Credit Website.


Bishop Kelley’s response: Bishop Kelley High School has created this landing page to keep you updated on important information regarding the tax credit as well as how it relates specifically to our school. Our hope is to help as many families as possible benefit from this opportunity which makes a Catholic education more accessible for those who wish to obtain one.  Toward this end, Bishop Kelley is working with the Diocese and other Catholic school leaders in the Tulsa area in an attempt to develop a tax credit operations plan that will facilitate families having a consistent experience in applying for the credit.  For example, if a family has a child at BK and another child in a different Catholic school in Tulsa, Diocesan or Private, our hope is that we can design a registration pathway that will allow the family a unified process to apply for all their children.


Save the Date – Sign-up Fair!  Although we await more information from the OTC before we can finalize a plan, I urge you to "Save the Date" for a Tax-Credit Signup Fair at Bishop Kelley to be held on Friday, December 8, 2023, and Saturday, December 9, 2023, to assist families in signing up for the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit. The school is still in the planning stages of the event; detailed information will be shared in the second-half of November. More information on the BK Signup Fair can be found at the bottom of this page . 


Please refer back to this page to check for updates. Should you have any questions, please email questions@bishopkelley.org and one of Bishop Kelley's Administrators will be in touch to assist you.


If you'd like to receive an email when we have new information available, click the "Send Me Updates!" button below and fill out the short form to receive additional information as we have it.


In closing, may I ask your prayers for the OTC, school leaders, and BK in particular that the organization and planning needed to transform this tax credit concept into a manageable operational reality may be guided by the Holy Spirit?  As you can imagine, the practical details are quite complex.  We rely on the help of your prayers!


Yours in Christ,

Sister Mary Hanah Doak, RSM

President, Bishop Kelley High School

Send Me Updates!

NOTICE OF PROPOSED EMERGENCY RULEMAKING


PROPOSED RULE: 710:50-15-118.  Parental Choice Tax Credit

SUMMARY: The proposed emergency rule implements the provisions of HB 1934 [2023] which created the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act [70 O.S. § 28-100 et seq.] effective for tax year 2024, and subsequent tax years. The proposed rule sets forth definitions and procedures for claiming both the homeschool tax credit and the private school tax credit. In 2024, the Tax Commission will begin disbursing payments for the private school tax credit. As a result, emergency rulemaking is necessary to promulgate a rule to provide clear guidance to taxpayers and eligible private schools on the procedures for claiming the income tax credits.

 

COMMENT PERIOD: Written comments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. on October 12, 2023, at the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Oklahoma City, OK 73194, Attn: Lisa Haws, or by email to parentalchoice@tax.ok.gov.


Visit the Oklahoma Tax Commission Parental Choice Tax Credit Website

PARENTAL CHOICE TAX CREDIT - PRIVATE SCHOOL FAQs

  • What is the private school tax credit?

    Beginning in tax year 2024, a refundable income tax credit is allowed for certain Oklahoma taxpayers who pay, or expect to pay, tuition and fees to an eligible private school on behalf of an eligible student. An eligible taxpayer is someone who is subject to the tax laws of the state of Oklahoma, and who is a biological or adoptive parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to act on behalf of the eligible student.

  • How do I apply?

    To claim the private school tax credit, you will apply online. You will need to upload with the application a completed Affidavit of Enrollment and a copy of the Oklahoma income tax return or the federal income tax return for the second preceding tax year of the household of which the student is a member. If the household had no tax filing requirement, taxpayer shall submit the Affidavit for No Filing Requirement (OTC Form 591-C) and an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Verification of Nonfiling Letter, which provides proof from the IRS that there is no record of a filed tax form for the year requested.

  • Who qualifies as an Oklahoma taxpayer?

    An Oklahoma taxpayer is any person who is liable to pay any Oklahoma tax, or required to file a report, a return, or remit any tax required by the provisions of any Oklahoma tax law or required to obtain a license or a permit or to keep any records under the provisions of any Oklahoma tax law.

  • Who qualifies as an eligible student?

    A student who is a resident of Oklahoma and is eligible to enroll in an Oklahoma public school. Additionally, the student must be enrolled in and attending an eligible private school in Oklahoma.

  • Is Bishop Kelley High School an eligible accredited private school?

    At the current time, a private school is considered eligible only if it is accredited by the State Board of Education or another accrediting association, which includes the Oklahoma Private School Accrediting Commission (OPSAC) and any OPSAC-recognized accrediting associations. In addition, a private accrediting association may be approved by the State Board of Education and have the authority to accredit schools within their association. The Oklahoma Tax Commission does not make determinations as to whether a private school has met accreditation standards of either the State Board of Education or other accrediting associations. 


    Bishop Kelley IS an eligible accredited private school.

  • What expenses qualify?

    "Qualified expense" means tuition and fees at a private school accredited by the State Board of Education or another accrediting association, which includes the Oklahoma Private School Accrediting Commission (OPSAC) and any OPSAC-recognized accrediting associations. Fees include enrollment, registration, or application fees; textbook fees; technology fees; activity fees; testing and assessment fees; and fees paid for school uniforms, if paid directly to the school.

  • Do I apply for the credit once a year, or do I need to apply before each school semester/quarter?

    Only one application is required for each tax year. For tax year 2024, the application process opens on December 8, 2023.  Each year thereafter, you can apply for the credit beginning on the first day of December preceding the applicable tax year. For example, the application process opens on December 1, 2024, for tax year 2025. The deadline to apply is on or before December 31 of the tax year you incur private school tuition and fees, or until the cap has been met, whichever occurs first.

  • If my student's household income is less than $150,000, what do I need to do to receive priority consideration?

    For tax year 2024, the application period for students with household income of less than $150,000, will be December 8, 2023, through January 22, 2024.  For tax year 2025 and subsequent tax years, the application period for students with household income of less than $150,000, will be December 1st (preceding the applicable tax year) through January 15th.  Applications will be processed on a first-come- first-serve basis. Please note that submitting an application during this period does not guarantee eligibility for the credit. Only properly submitted applications approved by the OTC will be eligible for the credit until the cap is met. 




  • How much is the cap for the private school tax credit?

    • For tax year 2024, the OTC cannot authorize more than $150 million tax credits.
    • For tax year 2025, the OTC cannot authorize more than $200 million tax credits.
    • For tax year 2026 and subsequent tax years, the OTC cannot authorize more than $250 million tax credits.

  • If I am the grandparent of the student, am paying the student's private school tuition in 2024, and the student has never lived with me, am I required to provide a copy of my tex return of the tax return of the household where the student lives?

    You must provide a copy of the Oklahoma income tax return or the federal income tax return for the second preceding tax year of the household where the student resides.

  • What if my student did not live with me in 2022?

    If the student is living with you now but did not live with you in 2022, you still must provide a copy of your 2022 income tax return. The amount of your 2022 federal adjusted gross income (AGI) determines the amount of credit for which your student may be eligible.

  • What is the maximum amount of the tax credit for which I may be eligible?

    The maximum amount of the credit is determined by the total federal AGI of the student's household during the second preceding tax year.


    FEDERAL             MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF 

        AGI                              CREDIT PER YEAR                             $0 - $75,000                        $7,500

    $75,001 - $150,000           $7,000

    $150,001 - 225,000                $6,500

    $225,001 - $250,000        $6,000

    $250,001 and up                $5,000

  • If my spouse and I have an income tax filing status of "married, filing separately," how do we determine the amount of federal AGI?

    If you have an income tax filing status of "married, filing separately", the federal AGI reported on each tax return for the second preceding tax year will be added together to determine the student’s household federal AGI.

  • If my application is approved, how much tax credit will I receive?

    The credit amount will be based on the anticipated private school tuition and fees you expect to pay for the tax year, as indicated in the private school’s Affidavit of Enrollment. Each payment will not exceed half of the allowable credit for the applicable tax year.

  • What if I have more than one child who is eligible for the credit?

    In the case of having multiple eligible students, the taxpayer may receive the tax credit for each eligible student. For example, if the federal AGI of the household where the students reside is less than $75,000, the taxpayer may qualify for up to $7,500 per year per eligible student. It is important to note, however, that a separate application must be completed and submitted for each eligible student for each tax year.

  • If my student is graduating in the spring of 2024, will I be allowed to use all my 2024 tax credit for the tuition and fees I paid for the one semester?

    No, the amount of your credit will be limited to half the amount of your 2024 allowable credit, not to exceed the amount of tuition and fees for the one semester.

  • If my expenses exceed my credit, can I use the following year's credit to pay this year's expenses?

    The credit can be claimed only for the tax year in which the qualified expenses are actually incurred.  Where qualified expenses are incurred in excess of the allowable credit for any given tax year, the excess of qualified expenses cannot be used in claiming the credit for any other tax year.

  • If I owe delinquent taxes to the Tax Commission or a debt to any local entity in Oklahoma or Oklahoma state agency, will my credit payment be reduced as a result of my outstanding obligations?

    Before issuing the credit payment, the Tax Commission will deduct from the amount of the credit any outstanding state tax, penalty, and interest thereon, which the taxpayer owes pursuant to any state tax law. Additionally, if the Tax Commission has received notice from another state or county entity that the taxpayer has an outstanding debt, the Tax Commission will deduct from the tax credit payment the amount owed to that entity, plus any collection expenses and costs.

  • Will I have to pay income tax on the private school tax credit payment?

    If your federal AGI includes any private school tax credit payments, the amount included in federal AGI will also be included in your Oklahoma taxable income. Please contact your own tax professional if you need more information.

  • Will I receive a 1099-G from the OTC?

    Form 1099-G is for certain types of government payments, such as unemployment compensation, state or local income tax refunds, credits or offsets. The OTC will issue Form 1099-G to taxpayers who receive a Parental Choice Tax Credit payment.

  • I should qualify for the Parental Choice Tax Credit and my student(s) is or will be enrolled at Bishop Kelley. How is the money transferred to the school for tuition payment?

    We are working to gather all information and hope to be able to provide an update in November. Please check back soon!

  • How will this differ from BK's FACTS application?

    We are working to gather all information and hope to be able to provide an update in November. Please check back soon!

  • Do I need to fill out both the state application for the Parental Choice Tax Credit and BK's FACTS App?

    We are working to gather all information and hope to be able to provide an update in November. Please check back soon!

  • Can BK provide additional guidance for this Parental Choice Tax Credit?

    Yes! Tentatively we are planning to host a Sign Up Fair on campus to assit families in signing up on Friday, December 8 from 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM and Saturday, Decemer 9 from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Please scroll to the bottom of this page for more event details and to sign up for a notification when registration opens.

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