Despite the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it’s also time to remember the deadline is approaching for 2014 tax credits.

Donations can be done in person, through the mail or on-line, but you can’t wait beyond Dec. 31. The advantages are numerous, both for those contributing and those receiving the funds.

We’re talking, of course, about the “Arizona State Tax Credit Program,” specifically the tax credit to benefit public schools. Administrators at both the Fountain Hills Unified School District and Fountain Hills Charter School are pushing hard for last-minute tax credit donations before the calendar year ends.

These tax credits can be designated toward a program of choice, as long as it is extra-curricular in nature (campus clubs, sports, music, FCCLA trip, etc.).

All such tax credit donations will directly assist students with their extra-curricular activities. And that also means that FHUSD and the Charter School will be able to use the rest of their budgeted money directly for education purposes.

To take advantage of the Arizona State Tax Credit Program, an Arizona state taxpayer writes a check for up to $400 if married and filing jointly to the school and program of his or her choice. The taxpayer then gets up to a $400 tax credit from the state when filing 2014 taxes. If the taxpayer is single, head of the household, or married and filing separately, then up to $200 can be donated.

If a person owes no taxes, a credit may be carried over for up to five years. This is a dollar for dollar credit, not a deduction, so it results in absolutely no cost to the taxpayer.

In addition, such local entities as Extended Hands Food Bank and the McKee Branch of the Greater Scottsdale Boys & Girls Clubs can benefit from similar donations using the “working poor” tax credit, which is separate from the public school tax credit.

We urge all taxpayers to take advantage of these financial benefits.