The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit

General FAQs

• What is the Parental Choice Tax Credit?

  Beginning in tax year 2024, a refundable income tax credit between $5,000-$7,500 is provided to eligible Oklahoma taxpayers who pay, or expect to pay, qualified expenses, such as tuition and fees, to an eligible private school on behalf of an eligible student that currently attends or plans to attend an eligible private school during that tax year.

• Have there been changes to the planned application dates and deadlines for the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit? 

  The Oklahoma Tax Commission announced Thursday, November 30th that the application start date for the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit has been delayed to Wednesday, December 6th at 2 p.m. Due to this, the 60-day priority period for low-income families will now be extended through Monday, February 5th, 2024.

• Who is eligible?

  An eligible taxpayer includes biological or adoptive parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, legal guardians, custodians, or other persons with legal authority to act on behalf of the eligible student.

• What if there are multiple eligible students in one household?

  In the case of having multiple eligible students, the taxpayer may receive the tax credit for each eligible student. For example, if the federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of the household where the students reside is $75,000 or less, the taxpayer may qualify for up to $7,500 per year per eligible student. While only one application is required for multiple eligible students, it is important to note that a separate Enrollment Verification Form from the school is required for each student. 

• What else should I know about accepting the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit?

  Participation in the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Program shall have the same effect as a parental revocation of consent, which means that the child’s public school district is no longer required to provide special education services. The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) will be responsible for providing parents, legal guardians, custodians, or other persons with the legal authority of eligible students with disabilities notice of this. Note: This same language is in the Lindsey Nicole Henry (LNH) Scholarship statute and has since been found to be in violation of Federal Child Find regulations. It is expected that the language in both statutes will be appealed.

• How soon will I find out if I get the tax credit?

  The Parental Choice Tax Credit program anticipates priority applicants will be notified of approval status within approximately 14 days of submission of a “processible” application. Non-priority applicants who apply during the priority consideration period will receive an acknowledgment of receipt of their application but will not be notified of approval status until after February 5, 2024, when the priority application period closes and all priority applicants have been approved and notified of their award. Once the priority consideration period has ended, and all priority applicants have been approved and notified of their award, all other applicants can expect to be notified of the status of their application within approximately 14 days of submission of a processible application.

• What applicants are considered priority?

  Priority will be given to applicants claiming credits for eligible students who are members of a household in which the federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from tax year 2022 does not exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) (“priority applicants”).