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Published: November 01 2011

With just the stroke of a pen or the click of a mouse, local businesses can participate in the Send Your Sales Tax to School program and increase the access Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) students have to the latest technology.

By checking the appropriate box each month on their Sales and Use Tax Return form, the collection allowance (maximum $30) each business receives for keeping prescribed records, filing timely returns, conducting proper accounting and remitting taxes in a timely manner will be donated, instead, to BCPS. Donations are tax deductible. All funds received by the District will be used to purchase technology for classrooms and train teachers to insure effective use of the technology.

In 2010, Florida businesses retained $61 million in collection allowances as compensation for time spent on accounting and filing returns. The success of the program is dependent on businesses electing to participate. If all Broward businesses took part in this program, the District could potentially receive over $6 million to support instructional use of technology.

Businesses located outside Broward County or out-of-state, as well those businesses that file Consolidated Sales and Use Tax forms, may also take part in the program. By checking the appropriate box, their collection allowance will be transferred into the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. Those funds will then be distributed to school districts that have adopted the required resolutions. Since Broward has adopted the required resolution, a portion of the donation will be given to Broward County Public Schools.

BCPS was the first school district in the state to pass a resolution declaring that money received through the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund would be used solely for technology. The Fund was established when a law was passed by the Florida Legislature in 2006. Businesses began taking part in the Send Your Sales Tax to School program on their 2007 sales tax forms.

For more information about the Send Your Sales Tax to School program, a link to the Florida Department of Revenue website and the online form to participate, go to the BCPS website (www.browardschools.com).