ECA Tax
Credit
PURPOSE
OF ECA DONATIONS:
The
primary mission of public schools is academics and student
achievement, so available financial resources are directed
primarily toward the classroom. However, research shows
that participation in extra-curricular activities provides
a safe, supervised place for students to be after school;
contributes to a positive attitude toward school; builds
on vocational or avocational interests; and leads to increased
student achievement. The dollar-for-dollar tax credit of
up to $300 for taxpayers to donate funds to a public school
of their choice will make extra-curricular activities available
to more students and more affordable for families.
HOW
TO MAKE A DONATION:
The
Extra-Curricular Activity (ECA) Donation form is now available
on-line. This form can be printed out, filled in and faxed
or mailed to the Mesa Public Schools district office. Important:
If you are making the contribution to support a specific
student's activities, such as Band, Outdoor Education, etc.,
do not mail the completed forms to the MPS district office.
Instead, please turn them in to the Rhodes Bookstore for
credit to the student's account.
The
forms are provided as a Microsoft
Word document (ECA.doc) or an Adobe
Acrobat file (ECA.pdf). (Note: If you don't
already have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can get it here.)
Contributions can also be made online
using Visa or Mastercard (can not be used for a specific
student's activity).
Maximize
your donation by participating in the Westcor Tax Credit
Challenge for Rhodes:
Help
Rhodes earn additional money by participating in Westcor’s
Extra Credit Challenge. With each maximum public school
tax credit donation, Westcor will contribute an additional
$20 to Rhodes, up to $1,000 for the school. This year,
Westcor and its partners will contribute $150,000 to
Arizona public schools. It is easy to do, just:
*
Go on-line to www.westcor.com
and choose Events & Promotions, then click Community
Programs, then go to “Click Here to Print Brochure.
NOTE: If the new form is not yet available for the
school year, check back at a later date.
*
Complete the Westcor form, sign it, and submit it along
with your maximum tax credit donation to Rhodes.
*
Upon receipt, Westcor will fund an additional $20 to
Rhodes for every form received up to $1,000 (We need
50 forms turned in to receive the extra $1,000 for the
school.
Thanks
to everyone that participated in the 2005-2006 Westcor
Tax Credit Challenge. You helped earn Rhodes a total
of $1,000 in ECA funds from Westcor! Great job!
WHO
CAN DONATE WITH ECA:
This tax credit is available to all Arizona individual taxpayers
regardless of whether or not they have children in school.
An individual can contribute and receive a tax credit for
any amount up to $200, or a couple filing jointly can contribute
up to $400.
Parents, as well as Arizona taxpayers who donate but do
not have a child enrolled in a public school, are eligible
for the tax credit, which is not the same as a deduction
on your income tax form. As an example, if you owe $1,000
in state income taxes and you donate $300 through ECA for
extra-curricular activities, you may subtract the $300 from
your tax bill and pay the state only $750 (consult your
tax advisor for specific reporting requirements).
DEADLINE
FOR DONATIONS:
Donations
must be received by December 31st in order for you to be
eligible for the tax credit this calendar year. If paying
by mail, donations must be postmarked to the MPS District
Office by December 31st in order to be eligible for the
tax credit this calendar year. If paying to support a specific
student's activities, please refer to the deadlines published
by the Rhodes department or club that is sponsoring the
event.
DESIGNATING
THE RECIPIENT OF YOUR DONATION:
If
you’d like to support extra-curricular activities
for students, complete an ECA form and list the department/program
on the form in the area marked "Priority." If
you leave this blank and just write down "Rhodes Jr.
High" for the "School" field, then your money
will go into the General Fund and will be used for those
groups/activities needing the money the most.
If
donating on-line, click on "Make a Donation" and
select "Rhodes" from the School drop-down menu.
Then, select the department or group from the Activity drop-down
menu. If you are unsure of a selection but would like to
direct your funds to a specific group or department, please
see our webpages for school/student activities:
If
you are using the ECA form to pay for a specific student's
activities, please contact the teacher or staff member organizing
the event or activity for more specific instructions. Funds
turned directly into the Mesa Public School's district office
can not be directed towards a specific student's activities
- they will be deposited into the fund for the activity
or club. We do our best to ensure that your donation is
used for the purpose(s) you specify. But if for some reason
your donation cannot be used for that activity, such as
when a field trip or a performance is cancelled, the school
will use your money to support another worthwhile activity.
RECEIPTS:
You
will receive a receipt to use when your tax return is prepared;
these receipts are not sent out until January 31st, following
the close of the tax year.
CONTACT:
If
you would like more information, contact Rhodes Junior High
at (480) 472-2300. Click here
to see the Mesa Public School's webpage and information
on ECA donations.
