Beginning January 1, 2027, Sarasota County taxpayers will have a new opportunity to support students while reducing their federal income taxes. What makes this particularly exciting is that our local K-12 public school students can benefit, too. Yet surprisingly few people know about this opportunity.
Sarasota County has a long history of investing in education. Our residents, businesses, and philanthropic organizations consistently step forward to support students and educators. We’ve seen firsthand what happens when students receive the right support at the right time. This new federal tax credit offers another way to make that possible.
The Education Freedom Tax Credit, signed into federal law in July 2025, allows taxpayers to make charitable contributions to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) and receive a dollar-for-dollar federal income tax credit of up to $1,700. Married couples filing jointly may qualify for up to $3,400 combined. Unlike a charitable deduction, which reduces taxable income, this credit directly reduces federal income tax liability, subject to certain limitations…