Sun Life Family Health Center
Casa Grande, AZ – At non-profit organizations, like Sun Life Family Health Center, every dollar counts. Health centers face the same financial pressures private health care practices experience. Health centers often offer preventative programs for their patients that are not fully reimbursed by insurance, such as diabetes education, integrated oral health, integrated behavioral health and integrated clinical pharmacy services.
Did you know that Arizona tax law provides a credit for taxpayers that make contributions to qualifying charitable organizations? Did you know that you could be making contributions to organizations like Sun Life Family Health Center, while also reducing your state tax liability? According to the Arizona Department of Revenue (AZDOR), taxpayers filing as “single” and “head of household” status may claim a maximum credit of $400. Taxpayers filing as “married filing separate” may claim a maximum credit of $400. Taxpayers that file as “married filing joint” may claim a maximum credit of $800.
Tax Deduction? Tax Credit? What’s the difference?
According to the IRS, tax credits and tax deductions can help reduce your overall income tax liability. While you might want to take advantage of as many of these as possible, it’s important to know that tax deductions and tax credits are not the same thing. Tax deductions lower your taxable income and they are equal to the percentage of your marginal tax bracket. For instance, if you are in the 25% tax bracket, an $800 deduction saves you $200 in tax (0.25 x $800 = $200). On the other hand, tax credits can help reduce your tax liability dollar-for-dollar. However they cannot reduce your income tax liability to less than zero. In other words, your gross income tax liability is the amount you are responsible for paying before any credits are applied. This means that an $800 tax credit saves you $800 in taxes. A tax credit is always worth more than a dollar-equivalent tax deduction, because deductions are calculated using percentages. To get a better idea of how tax credits work and whether or not you qualify, you need to know what is available to taxpayers in your situation — such as your filing status, age, employment, and education. It is important to remember that just because you qualify for one type of tax credit does not mean that you qualify for the rest (IRS.gov). Talk to your tax preparer to see if you qualify and might want to take advantage of the tax credit for charitable organizations.
A Qualifying Charitable Organization is a charity that that meets ALL of the following provisions:
• Is exempt from federal income taxes under Section a 501(c)(3) or is a designated community action agency that receives community services block grant program monies pursuant to 42 United States Code Section 9901.
• Provide services that meet immediate basic needs.
• Serves Arizona residents who receive temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) benefits, are low income residents whose household income is less than 150% of the federal poverty level, or are chronically ill or physically disabled children.
• Spends at least 50% of its budget on qualified services to qualified Arizona residents.
• Affirm that it will continue spending at least 50% of its budget on qualified services to qualified Arizona residents.
A charity must apply for and meet all requirements of the law to be considered as a Qualifying Charitable Organization. Approved charities’ names are listed on the Department of Revenue’s website.
Now that I know more about the tax credit, how am I doing good for others?
At non-profit organizations, like Sun Life Family Health Center, every dollar counts. Health centers face the same financial pressures private health care practices experience. Health centers often offer preventative programs for their patients that are not fully reimbursed by insurance, such as diabetes education, integrated oral health, integrated behavioral health and integrated clinical pharmacy services. When you make a donation to Sun Life, you’re helping take care of your neighbors and improve the health of your community. Healthy communities are prosperous communities. By making a donation to a charitable organization, like Sun Life, you are choosing where your tax dollars go and helping to impact your community.
So this year, please do good, feel good, and help yourself.
To learn more about the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, and qualifying charitable organizations – http://bit.ly/2Cu8p98
To learn more about Sun Life Family Health Center, or to make an online donation, visit www.sunlifefamilyhealth.org.
ABOUT SUN LIFE FAMILY HEALTH CENTER
Sun Life Family Health Center is Pinal County’s largest primary care provider, and was one of the first community health centers in the state to have received accreditation from the Joint Commission (the gold standard of quality in healthcare). Sun Life serves both insured and uninsured patients, and provides health services in family practice, dentistry, women’s health, pediatrics, integrated behavioral health, diabetes education, and much more.
Sun Life operates several family practice offices, located in Apache Junction, Casa Grande, Coolidge, Eloy, Florence, Maricopa, Oracle, and San Manuel. Women’s wellness and maternity services are available at our Centers for Women in Apache Junction, Casa Grande, Chandler and Maricopa. Both Family and Pediatric Dentistry are available in Casa Grande. Our Apache Junction, Casa Grande, Eloy, Florence, Maricopa, and San Manuel locations offer a public pharmacy. Sun Life offers Pediatrics in Casa Grande and Maricopa.
To learn more about office locations and hours, visit www.sunlifefamilyhealth.org. Sun Life… Excellence in health, wellness and education.