ACE Scholarship
ACE Scholarship Information
As you know, Montanans have an opportunity to empower lower-income families to access a life-changing quality K-12 education at no additional cost to them by redirecting part or all their state income tax liability to ACE Scholarships.
Here is our tax credit website. This, along with the tax credit booklet, will be useful resources for CPAs.
In order to receive a 2026 state tax credit, donors need to complete a few mandatory steps before a donation can be submitted to the state for the credit.
The process is SIMPLE to receive your 100% tax credit:
- Complete the 2026 Tax Credit Commitment Form online or print and send the form to the ACE national office.
- Donate to ACE Montana SSO (ACE must receive your donation BEFORE we can submit your information to the state to claim your tax credit)
- Once the donation is received, ACE will add the donor’s information to the queue to be entered on the state’s website when it opens on January 15, 2026.
- ACE will begin submitting tax credit requests via the state portal the moment the program opens on January 15th and continue until the $6M cap has been met.
- Once the donation is accepted for a tax credit, ACE will email the donor a tax credit certificate that donors turn in with their taxes.
FAQs
How can I donate to the tax credit program?
- Check: Checks must be dated January 1, 2026, or later to qualify for a 2026 tax credit
Checks should be made payable to ACE Scholarships Montana SSO and can be mailed anytime between now and January 10th to ACE national headquarters address below. If you’ve already completed the tax credit commitment form online, there’s no need to include a copy of the form with your check.
ACE Scholarships Montana SSO
- ACH or Wire Transfer: Should be made between January 1-10, 2026.
Wire transfer instructions are included in the attached ACE MT Tax Credit Overview 2026 or on page 6 of the tax credit booklet.
- Credit Card: This is the least preferred method of contributing as a 3.75% transactions fee is assessed for each donation.
However, if a credit card donation works best for you, your card information can be securely given over the phone anytime between now and January 14th by calling Tina Burke at our national office at (303) 407-0611.
Please reach out with questions or if you’d like me to work with your accountant directly.
Is there a limit on how much I can donate towards the tax credit program?
Tax credit donations are limited to $200,000 per individual/corporation or $400,000 for a married couple filing jointly (individuals, estates or trusts, corporations, partnerships, and LLCs all qualify to participate). Additional information is provided in the attached ACE MT Tax Credit Overview.
How do I know how much to donate if I’m not sure what my tax liability will be for 2026?
Any remaining tax credits you receive in 2026 can be rolled over for 3 additional years. So, feel free to overestimate now while there are state tax credits still available, knowing you can use whatever you don’t need for 2026 in future years.
What if I want my donation to go somewhere specific?
ACE is donor driven! Donors can restrict their donation to a certain region or area of Montana, including all the way down to a specific school or schools.
Can I use a 2026 tax credit to pay what I owe on my 2025 taxes?
Unfortunately, no. You can use the state tax credit for what you own for the tax year it was received and for up to 3 additional years going forward. However, you can not use it to pay taxes for years prior to receiving the credit.