Project Eligibility

Sponsor and Sponsor Project Eligibility

To receive donations that are eligible for a tax credit or refund, an organization and its project(s) must apply to and be certified by FloridaCommerce. To qualify as a sponsor, an organization must be one of the following organization types:

• A community action program
• A nonprofit community-based development organization providing community development projects, housing for low-income households, or increasing entrepreneurial and job development opportunities for low-income persons
• A neighborhood housing services corporation
• A local housing authority
• A community redevelopment agency
• A historic preservation district agency or organization
• A local CareerSource Board
• A direct-support organization
• An enterprise zone development agency
• A community-based organization incorporated under chapter 617 which is recognized as educational, charitable or scientific pursuant to s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and whose bylaws and articles of incorporation include affordable housing, economic development or community development as the primary mission of the corporation
• A unit of local government
• A unit of state government

The organization must also have a project that fits one of the following criteria:

• Designed to construct or rehabilitate housing for low-income or very-low-income households
• Designed to construct, improve or substantially rehabilitate housing that is affordable to low-income or very-low-income households
• Designed to provide housing opportunities for persons with special needs
• Designed to provide commercial, industrial or public facilities in a Front Porch Florida Community or an area designated as a Florida Enterprise Zone
• Designed to improve entrepreneurial or job development opportunities for low-income persons in a Front Porch Florida Community or an area designated as a Florida Enterprise Zone
• Increase access to high-speed broadband capability in rural communities with enterprise zones (including projects that result in improvements to communication assets that are owned by a business)

Only entities that meet both the sponsor and project eligibility criteria may apply to be a sponsor.

Become a Sponsor

How to Apply to Become a Sponsor

Organizations that qualify as an eligible sponsor and have an eligible project may apply to be a sponsor via the Division of Economic Development application portal. Before applying, review the Sponsor and Sponsor Project Eligibility tab to see if your organization and its project meet the requirements. As part of the application, organizations will complete a project narrative detailing aspects of the project to show qualifications and include: a description of the eligible project, types of donations sought, and uses for the donations.

Sponsor applications must contain a resolution from the local governmental where the project will be located certifying that the project is consistent with local plans and regulations. Also, projects that do not provide housing for individuals with special needs, or homeownership opportunities for low-income individuals, are required to provide documentation that the project is in a Front Porch Florida Community or a designated Enterprise Zone. For a complete list, please see Sponsor Application Required Documentation (link in text).

Apply for Tax Credits or a Tax Refund

How to Apply for Tax Credits or a Tax Refund

Before donating, please be sure your donation will qualify. Cash, property, and goods donated to approved sponsors (link) are eligible for the tax credit. Donations must be directly used in the approved project.

Tax credit applications for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 will be accepted via the application portal for at least the first ten business days of the state fiscal year (July 3 - July 17) and will be approved on a pro rata basis if requested tax credit applications exceed tax credit allocations. After July 17, 2023, if tax credits remain available, applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please see the Tax Credit Application Required Documentation (link in text) for a full list of required documentation needed for your application.

For Fiscal Year 2023-2024, $25 million in tax credits are available for Homeownership projects, and $4.5 million in tax credits are available for All Other projects.

No donor shall receive more than $200,000 in tax credits.

E-Verify

E-Verify

Donors that are private employers must verify a person’s employment eligibility by using the E-Verify system or by requiring the person to provide the same documentation that is required by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services on its Employment Eligibility Verification form (Form I-9). Applicants that are private employers must submit the Employment Eligibility document with the application and additional documentation as required.

Tax Credit/Refund

How to Claim Your Tax Credit/Refund

To claim the approved tax credit, submit a copy of the FloridaCommerce approval letter to the Department of Revenue (DOR) when filing a Florida Corporate Income Tax Return (form F-1120) or Insurance Premium Tax Return (DR-908). To claim the approved tax refund, submit a copy of the FloridaCommerce approval letter to DOR with an Application for Refund (Form DR-26S). Please note that only one sales tax refund application may be submitted to DOR within a 12-month period.