Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC)

Overview

The program provides tax credits to eligible businesses contributing to an Opportunity Scholarship Organization. Business contributions are then used by Opportunity Scholarship Organizations to provide tuition assistance in the form of scholarships to eligible students residing within the boundaries of a low-achieving school to attend another public school outside of their district or nonpublic school. A low-achieving school is defined as a public elementary or secondary school ranking in the bottom 15 percent of their designation as an elementary or secondary school based upon combined math and reading Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) scores.

Business Application Timeline

• May 15, 2018 – Business applicants who have fulfilled their 2-year commitment and wish to reapply for FY 18/19 to renew their 2-year commitment.
• May 15, 2018 – Businesses who are in the middle of their 2-year commitment.
• July 2, 2018 – All other businesses including initial applicants and those applicants wishing to submit an additional application on top of their previously submitted 2-year commitment.

Tax credits may be applied against the tax liability of a business for the tax year in which the contribution was made. The tax credits awarded to businesses will be equal to 75 percent of their contribution amount, which can be increased to 90 percent upon the business committing for two years. The total may not exceed $750,000 per taxable year.

Funding

Tax credits equal to 75 percent of a business’s contribution (up to a maximum of $750,000 per taxable year) can be increased to 90 percent of the contribution if a business agrees to provide the same amount for two consecutive tax years. Total program funding for fiscal year 2018-2019 is $50 million.

Eligibility

Businesses authorized to do business in Pennsylvania who are subject to one or more of the following taxes:

• Personal Income Tax
• Capital Stock/Foreign Franchise Tax
• Corporate Net Income Tax
• Bank Shares Tax
• Title Insurance & Trust Company Shares Tax
• Insurance Premium Tax (excluding surplus lines, unauthorized, domestic/foreign marine)
• Mutual Thrift Tax
• Malt Beverage Tax or Retaliatory Fees under section 212 of the Insurance Company Law of 1921

Terms

An approved company must provide proof to DCED within 90 days of the notification letter that the contribution was made within 60 days of the notification letter. Tax credits not used in the tax year the contribution was made may not be carried forward or carried back and are not refundable or transferable.

How to Apply

Pennsylvania businesses can begin applying for Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credits through DCED’s electronic single application system. DCED will no longer require applicants to mail the signed signature page.

The business application guide explains the process of applying. Tax credit applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis by day submitted. All applications received on a specific day will be processed on a random basis before moving on to the next day’s applications. Applications will be approved until the amount of available tax credits is exhausted.

Once you have received your approval letter please complete the Designation Form and mail the form with your check to The Mennonite Foundation Inc. Please be aware you will also need to include a copy of your approval letter from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) with this form.

Finding Underperforming Schools

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is responsible for maintaining a list of the lowest 15 percent of underperforming schools within the commonwealth. This information can be accessed on the Department of Education website.