Fostering Success Tax Credit FAQs

A tax credit lets you subtract, dollar-for-dollar, from your state taxes. The Qualified Foster Child Donation Tax Credit can only reduce Georgia state income taxes—it does not apply if you don’t pay Georgia state taxes.

You can apply through Wellroot Family Services or via the Georgia Tax Center (GTC) website. If you don’t have an GTC account, you’ll need to create one using last year’s tax return information. After setting it up, request pre-approval from the GA DOR. If you have questions, contact Associate Director of Development Alex Bevel Jones at ajones@wellroot.org, or call (404) 327-5865

The Department of Revenue reviews and notifies you within 30 days—typically within a week.

No. Wait until after approval. Payment is made within 60 days of your approval letter (or by year-end if less time remains).

Single/Head of Household: up to $2,500
Married filing jointly or S‑Corp/LLC/Partnership: up to $5,000
C‑Corp, Trust, pass-through: up to 10% of entity’s income tax

These limits apply January 1–June 30 of each year. From July 1 to year-end, applications can be submitted in any amount until the annual cap is reached. If you applied earlier in the year, you may submit another application.

The Georgia Department of Revenue may lower your approved amount if it exceeds filing-status limits or if the annual cap for the credit has been met.

Not exactly, a tax credit redirects money you already owe in taxes to support transition-age youth in foster care. This funding benefits youth transitioning out of foster care, including young adults living in Wellroot’s TLP housing. Qualified expenditures include wraparound support and mentorship services. Wellroot also accepts general donations which can be used to support our other programs. To learn more about Wellroot’s child welfare services visit wellroot.org/our-programs.

Yes. You’ll receive a receipt reflecting your actual payment, and that’s the amount you will claim for the tax credit. However, please note that if you are pre-approved by DOR for a higher amount than you ultimately contribute, the unused portion of your pre-approved credit is not reallocated to other taxpayers. That portion is effectively lost from the available pool of tax credits for the year.

The unclaimed portion ($200) goes back into the state pool—cannot be claimed later or carried forward by you.

Yes. If your withholdings plus tax‑credit payment don’t cover your liability, you’ll owe the difference.

The $500 difference rolls over and can be applied to your future tax liability for up to five years.

It depends. After applying the tax credit against the Georgia income tax due and applying all estimated tax payments and withheld income taxes, if you paid more than you owed, you will receive a refund. If you paid more to qualified organizations than you owed, you can roll over the difference and it can be applied to your future tax liability for up to five years.

No. The overpayment rolls over and can be applied to your future tax liability for up to five years.

Yes, you will be responsible for the unpaid balance after the tax credit and withholdings.

Yes. As long as the total liability for the year is greater than or equal to your total state tax liability. For example: if you owe $5,000 in state taxes, paid $5,500 in withholdings in state payroll tax, you would be due a state refund of $500. If you also have a $5,000 tax credit, your refund would be $5,500.

Yes. This would apply to estimates for the current year.

Yes. The pre-approval process must be completed and all contributions made within 60 days of DOR pre-approval, and never later than December 31st of the applicable calendar year in order to be accepted. If you miss that deadline, you must reapply.

A credit reduces your Georgia taxes dollar-for-dollar while a deduction reduces the taxable income upon which taxes a calculated. A tax credit is generally more advantageous.

On a Georgia state return, you will look for tax credits and select “Business & Individual” credit, then code 151. Enter amount you contributed and approval certificate number.

Georgia Form IT-QFCD-TP2 form is completed by the taxpayer and attached to the income tax return when it is filed. This form is used to compute the income tax credit for a qualified contributions and can be found on the DOR website (https://dor.georgia.gov/qualified-foster-child-donation-credit). The Georgia Form IT‑QFCD‑FUND1 is issued by the Wellroot to confirm you have made the contribution for your records. Please note that your tax credit may only be claimed if you file your taxes electronically.

Yes. The tax credit cap resets annually on January 1, and you must reapply each year.

Yes. You may submit multiple applications until the cap is reached. Contribution limits are waived after June 30.