The application will open May 1st
The application will open May 1st
Application Deadline: December 31, 2026
2027 scholarship funds will be applied toward the 2027-2028 school year
Be prepared to upload your most recently filed tax return (1040 form)
Every student needs their own application
Every year, you will need to submit an updated application for your student
The 2027 Pay it Forward Scholarship
student application will be available May 1 - December 31, 2026
Eligibility Requirements*
To be approved to receive a Pay it Forward Scholarship, a student must meet the eligibility requirements as outlined in the law that governs the program and by which we operate. Once a student qualifies and receives a Pay it Forward Scholarship, they remain qualified for their entire school career, until graduation (or the age of 20).
All students must be Georgia Residents
Students in PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st grade are automatically eligible
Students in 2nd grade and older are eligible if they meet 1 of the 5 following criteria:
Received a PIFS (or other SSO) scholarship previously
Attended public school for six weeks (last year) prior to enrolling in private school (this year)
Homeschooled for one year (last year) prior to enrolling in private school (this year)
Zoned to attend a low-performing public school as designated by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement.
Documented case of bullying in a Georgia public school
*Documentation may be required in order to verify eligibility.
Note: Parents are required to submit an updated scholarship application each year they wish for their child to receive funds.
Scholarship Amounts
Eligible and enrolled students will receive an equal share of the tax credit donations designated for the school in a given year.
For example, if we have $10,000 in scholarship funds for the school and 10 approved students, then each student receives a $1,000 scholarship.
More information:
Pay it Forward Scholarships verifies a student’s eligibility to receive a scholarship based on the criteria set by the state of Georgia (at left). Also, we collect and review income information from each applicant, including tuition per student, and have set limitations on the amount of scholarship funds a student can receive annually based on their family’s annual household income as it relates to the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Our process for distribution is to divide any funds that are designated to a particular school equally amongst the students who have applied for a Pay it Forward Scholarship at the school and who have met the eligibility and enrollment requirements, not to exceed the lower amount of either the organization’s income limitations or the annual cap as set by Georgia.
NOTE: Pay it Forward Scholarships does not allow taxpayers (donors) to designate their tax credit donations to a particular student.
Income Limitations & Cap
Pay it Forward Scholarships income limitations are based on a household's annual income relative to the federal poverty guidelines, issued each year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services, which are the same guidelines used in annual reporting to the Georgia Department of Revenue.
Under 125% of the FPG
maximum of 100% of tuition and fees or the maximum amount allowed by the GA DOE
125% - 400% of the FPG
maximum of 80% of tuition and fees or the maximum amount allowed by the GA DOE
Over 400% of the FPG
maximum of 60% of tuition and fees for the maximum amount allowed by the GA DOE
For scholarship recipients in the 2026 calendar year (for purposes of the Form IT-QEE-SSO2 due on January 12, 2026), the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. §20-2A-2 (1), the maximum scholarship amount given by an SSO in any given year shall not exceed the average state and local expenditures per student in fall enrollment in public elementary and secondary education for this state. The Department of Education shall determine and publish such amount annually, no later than January 1.
For 2026, the maximum is $15,980 per the Georgia Department of Education
Can I apply for the scholarship if I am not required to file a tax return?
Yes, contact our office for alternate instructions on what documents to upload.
Can I submit more than one application if I am undecided on which school my child will attend?
Parents should only submit one application per child. They may select “I don’t see my school” if undecided, however they should update Pay it Forward Scholarships with the selected school’s name before the December 31st deadline. If no school is selected by this date, your child will not be included in the distribution for that application cycle.
How will I know if my child is approved for a Pay it Forward Scholarship?
A child is tentatively pre-approved once their parent completes the online application process, given that the information provided is accurate. Pay it Forward Scholarships will review and audit applications and contact parents if we have a question regarding a child’s eligibility or if information is missing from the application. Parents should receive an almost-immediate confirmation email for each child for whom they successfully submit a scholarship application.
Prior to scholarship distribution, Pay it Forward Scholarships completes an enrollment and eligibility verification process where applicant information is reviewed. Additional documentation may be requested from the parent or school during this process.
Parents will receive an email if and when their child is approved and awarded a scholarship.
Is my child guaranteed to receive a scholarship if we submit an application?
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee of a scholarship award. Scholarships are funded by Georgia’s QEE Tax Credit program and distributions are entirely dependent on Pay it Forward Scholarships receiving designated funds for a school AND being able to verify a child’s enrollment and eligibility.
To which school year will the scholarship be applied?
See the chart below for more information.
How can I know if there are funds designated for my school of choice?
Set up a phone appointment or email questions to PIFS. Parents can also ask their school which SSO (Student Scholarship Organization) they partner with for Georgia’s Tax Credit scholarship program.