Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit

Update

Help improve health care in our community through Georgia's rural hospital expense tax credit opportunity!

Jeff Davis Hospital is partnering with the Georgia HEART Hospital Program to implement this exciting new rural hospital tax credit.

What is the Georgia HEART rural hospital organization ("RHO") expense tax credit?
The Georgia General Assembly passed legislation that enables Georgia taxpayers receive a state income tax CREDIT for 100% of the amount they contribute to qualified rural hospital organizations (up to the limits set forth below).

●Taxpayers who itemize deductions on their federal income tax returns will be able to take a charitable income tax deduction for the entire amount of their contributions
●By replacing their federal itemized deduction for state and local income taxes paid, which is limited to $10,000, with a 100% deductible contribution to a rural hospital, taxpayers can realize significant tax savings

How much can I contribute for a tax credit?
If you pay Georgia income taxes, you are eligible to receive a tax credit for contributing to Jeff Davis Hospital from January 1 through June 30 of each taxable year, as follows:

●Individual Filer - 100% of the amount contributed, up to a limit of $5,000
●Married Filing Jointly - 100% of the amount contributed, up to a limit of $10,000
●Pass-Through Entity - 100% of the amount contributed, up to a limit of $10,000, so long as they would have paid Georgia income tax in that amount on their share of taxable income from the pass-through entity

How do I sign up to contribute before June 30?
1) Complete and submit your 2018 HEART Tax Credit Form at www.georgiaheart.org
2) Georgia HEART will submit your tax credit pre-approval form on your behalf to the GA DOR
3) Within 60 days of receiving DOR tax credit pre-approval, send a check made payable to Jeff Davis Hospital to Georgia HEART for deposit to the hospital's account
4) Georgia HEART will send you instructions on how to file your contribution confirmation with DOR
5) You will claim the credit when you file your 2018 tax return

How much can I contribute for a tax credit after June 30 each year?
After June 30 of each year, for so long as a portion of the $60 million annual cap on RHO tax credits is available, to offset their Georgia income tax liability, individual taxpayers may make unlimited contributions to RHOs for a corresponding 100% Georgia income tax credit.

●On or before May 15 of each year through June 30, individual taxpayers will be able to 'make a HEART Appointment' on the Georgia HEART website to authorize Georgia HEART to submit their post-June 30 tax credit pre-approval forms to the DOR.

Projections of the tax effects and possible tax savings associated with contributing to Jeff Davis Hospital through the Georgia HEART program are available at https://tinyurl.com/RHOtaxeffect.

Your contribution will increase our hospital funding and our ability to provide for the health care of individuals in our community!

For information about the rural hospital organization expense tax credit, please visit the Georgia HEART website at www.georgiaheart.org or contact Georgia HEART staff at heart@georgiaheart.org. You could also contact Barry Bloom, CFO, at Jeff Davis Hospital at 912-375-7781 ext. 257 or email him at bbloom@jeffdavishospital.com.