Georgia PEACH Education Tax Credit

Georgia’s PEACH Education Tax Credit (formerly known as the Qualified Education Expense Tax Credit) allows businesses to receive tax credits for their donations to Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs). These donations are then available for scholarships to help students attend private schools.

Program Type: Tax-Credit Scholarship

What It Supports: Scholarships funded by corporate and individual tax credit donations to Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs); covers private school tuition and fees at accredited private schools

Who It Serves: All Georgia students (no income limit); priority may be given to families with lower household incomes by individual SSOs

Funding Amount: Up to $12,857 per student (2024 cap); average scholarship approximately $4,400 but varies by SSO and donation funding

Eligibility Requirements:

• Students must have attended a public school for at least six weeks immediately prior to receiving a scholarship, OR be entering pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, or first grade (no prior public school attendance required for these grades)
• No income limits; scholarships are awarded by SSOs based on demonstrated financial need

How It Works:

1. Businesses and individuals donate to approved Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs)
2. Donors receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit against Georgia state taxes
3. SSOs use donations to fund scholarships for eligible students
4. Scholarships are restrictively endorsed and paid directly to participating schools

Program Scale:

• Total program funding capped at $120 million annually (first-come/first-served basis)
• Over 20,000 students currently participate
• Scholarships are not counted as income on state or federal tax returns

Application Process:

1. Families apply directly to Student Scholarship Organizations (SSOs), often with the help of the private school they wish to attend
2. Schools identify eligible students based on financial need and submit scholarship requests to their partner SSO
3. Families are awarded scholarships (amount varies by SSO funding and student financial need)

Active Student Scholarship Organizations in Georgia:

• AAA Scholarship Foundation (www.aaascholarships.org)
• Georgia Student Scholarship Organization, Inc. (www.GeorgiaSSO.us)
• Pay It Forward Scholarships
• Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program
• Georgia Kids FIRST Scholarship Program
• Apogee Georgia School Choice Scholarship Fund
• Arete Scholars Fund
• The Georgia Tuition Assistance Program
• Vision SSO

Donor Timing:

• Donations must be pledged by December 31st of each calendar year to be eligible for that year’s tax credit
• Pre-approval must be received from the Georgia Department of Revenue; taxpayers have 60 days from approval to fund their donation
• Donors should initiate the process early in the fall (September–October) to ensure approval before the December deadline

Important Note: Students cannot simultaneously receive Georgia Promise Scholarship and a tax-credit scholarship; programs are complementary but separate.