October 25, 2018—The
Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus will be eligible to receive funds through the
Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit program in 2019.
The Georgia General Assembly enacted the program to encourage taxpayers
throughout Georgia to learn more about the challenges rural hospitals
face and to provide an incentive for those taxpayers who wish to redirect
their Georgia income tax liability to help improve those hospitals’
financial condition and patient offerings.
The bill offers a rare state income tax credit to Georgia taxpayers and
C-Corporations that donate funds through the Georgia Rural Hospital Tax
Credit program to those rural hospital systems that qualify. The Health
System’s Camden Campus qualifies for this exciting program and has
partnered with Georgia HEART to implement the program for its Camden Campus.
“The Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit program is a wonderful opportunity
for our community to increase our hospital funding and our ability to
provide health care to the individuals we serve,” says Michael D.
Scherneck, president & CEO, Southeast Georgia Health System. “Taxpayers
can benefit from receiving a credit on their Georgia state income taxes
while knowing that they’ve made a direct impact on their local health
care.”
Georgia taxpayers are eligible to receive a tax credit for contributing
to the Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus, from January 1 –
June 30, 2019, 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
- C-Corporation or Trust – 100% of the amount contributed or 75% of
their Georgia income tax liability, whichever is less.
The Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit program makes $60 million of income
tax credits available to Georgia taxpayers, with each qualified rural
hospital having access to a maximum of $4 million of tax credits, until
the total annual $60 million cap is met. Georgia HEART began accepting
pre-applications to contribute to the program on October 1st and will
submit the applications in the order they are received to the state for
approval beginning January 2, 2019. Because of the popularity of the program
- as well as limitations on the credits available - potential donors should
submit their application requests well in advance of January 2. For more
information on the Georgia Rural Hospital Tax Credit program, visit
sghs.org/ga-tax-credit or the Georgia HEART website at
www.georgiaheart.org.