Tax Credits Available To SCCC/ATS Supporters

The Kansas Higher Education Tax Credit is available to individuals and businesses as a means of benefiting Seward County Community College/Area Technical School for facility improvements and deferred maintenance.

The Kansas Department of Revenue provides individual taxpayers as well as business and corporate entities that pay Kansas income tax to benefit by supporting Seward County Community College/Area Technical School. The donors of these funds may be awarded a Kansas tax credit equal to 60 percent of their donation upon approval by the Kansas Department of Revenue. Seward County Community College/Area Technical School is able to benefit by utilizing the contribution for identified deferred maintenance projects. Funds must be used for campus deferred maintenance items and cannot be used for the purchase of property, construction of student dormitories, or construction of athletic facilities.

The college has a number of deferred maintenance projects eligible for the use of the funds. The contribution can be specified for use in a particular project or the donor can request the contribution to be applied toward a specific project, which is not on the deferred maintenance list. The specified project can be presented to the Board of Trustees for review and approval within the restrictions of the Department of Revenue guidelines.

The Board of Trustees has established a minimum contribution of $500 to the college for deferred maintenance projects that would qualify for participation in the tax credit program. The legislation provides an opportunity for donors to participate through December 2012.

Dr. Duane Dunn, SCCC/ATS president, said the college is excited that the program to provide continued tax benefits to a donor has been extended. This program can provide additional incentives for the donor to support SCCC/ATS. The tax credit can be a great opportunity at a time when everyone is looking for opportunities to reduce expenditures. “For over 40 years SCCC/ATS has offered a wide variety of classes and these tax credits can help the college continue to improve its facilities.“ Priority projects include expansion of the agriculture sciences facilities, improvements to the Adult Learning Center, improvements to the industrial technology facilities, and enhancements to the Humanities building. Dunn emphasized that this is the final year the tax credits may be available because the legislation authorizing the tax credits will expire effective December 31, 2012.

With a $1,000 donation, the taxpayer would receive a $600 Kansas tax credit to be applied against his or her state tax liability, and the contribution would also be eligible as a contribution for federal tax reporting purposes as well.

Individuals, corporations, and non-profit entities are encouraged to contact Dennis Sander, Dean of Finance and Operations at Seward County Community College/Area Technical School, 620-417-1018 or [email protected] or their individual tax advisor for more information.