Form 41A720-S85, officially titled the Application for Preliminary Authorization of the Endow Kentucky Tax Credit, is a specialized state tax credit application issued by the Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Revenue. The Endow Kentucky Tax Credit program was established under Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS 141.438) to encourage philanthropic investment across the state by offering a nonrefundable income tax credit equal to 20 percent of an eligible endowment gift made to a certified permanent endowment fund held by a qualified community foundation, county-specific component fund, or affiliate community foundation. Because Kentucky law places an annual aggregate cap on the total credits available across the state each fiscal year, taxpayers must apply for preliminary authorization before claiming the credit. Form 41A720-S85 collects identifying information about the donor, the legal classification of the entity, the intended contribution amount, and the recipient foundation details. Submitting this form accurately is essential to secure an official preliminary credit allocation before the statutory funding pool is exhausted.
How To File Form 41A720-S85
Taxpayers seeking preliminary approval must file this application directly with the Kentucky Department of Revenue prior to claiming the credit on their annual tax return. The application review and approval process follows state administrative regulation 103 KAR 15:195.
Applicants may submit the completed form using one of the following methods:
- Email Submission: Send a signed and completed copy directly to the Department of Revenue Tax Credits Section at
DORTaxCredits@ky.gov. - Hand Delivery: Deliver the application directly to the Kentucky Department of Revenue, 1st floor security desk at 501 High Street, Frankfort, Kentucky.
Before beginning the application, donors should assemble the following documentation:
- The exact legal name, address, telephone number, and Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Social Security Number (SSN) of the donor.
- For business entities, the six-digit Kentucky Corporation/LLET Account Number.
- The certified name, physical mailing address, contact numbers, and FEIN of the qualified community foundation or affiliate foundation certified under KRS 147A.325.
- The exact fund name of the permanent endowment or county-specific component fund designated to receive the gift.
- The planned total dollar amount of the endowment gift.
How To Complete Form 41A720-S85
Form 41A720-S85 is organized into ten labeled information blocks (A through J), followed by an official declaration, an agency review area, and an optional confidentiality release.
Taxpayer And Entity Identification
Box A: Name Of Taxpayer
Enter the full legal name of the individual, estate, trust, or business entity making the endowment contribution. If filing as an individual, enter your first name, middle initial, and last name. If filing as a registered legal entity, enter the exact corporate or partnership name registered with the Kentucky Secretary of State.
Box B: Identification Number (SSN Or FEIN)
Enter the taxpayer’s nine-digit identification number. Individual donors must provide their Social Security Number (SSN), while business entities, estates, and trusts must enter their Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
Box C: Kentucky Corporation/LLET Account Number
If the applicant is a corporation, limited liability company, or pass-through entity subject to the Kentucky Limited Liability Entity Tax (LLET), enter the six-digit state tax account number. If your account number is shorter than nine digits, pad the beginning with leading zeros as indicated on state tax filings. If not applicable (such as for individual filers), leave this field blank.
Taxpayer Address And Contact Details
Provide the primary street address or post office box, city, state, and ZIP code where official correspondence and preliminary authorization letters should be mailed. Enter the primary telephone number and a valid email contact address for follow-up inquiries.
Box D: Type Of Entity
Select the single checkbox that accurately represents the legal structure of the donor:
- Individual: Check this box for individual taxpayers filing standard personal income tax returns.
- Estate: Check this box for legal estates making contributions from estate assets.
- Trust: Check this box for fiduciary trusts establishing or contributing to an endowment.
- Corporation: Check this box for C-corporations subject to corporate income tax.
- Limited Liability Pass-Through Entity: Check this box for partnerships, LLCs, and S-corporations electing or passing tax attributes through to owners.
- General Partnership: Check this box for general partnerships not organized as limited liability entities.
- Other: Check this box for any other qualifying legal entity structure and provide a short description.
Gift Details And Foundation Information
Box E: Submission Date Of Application
Enter the exact date the application is being submitted to the Department of Revenue using the two-digit month, two-digit day, and two-digit year format (MM/DD/YY). Applications are reviewed in the order received pursuant to state administrative regulations.
Box F: Amount Of Endowment Gift
Enter the total monetary value in U.S. dollars of the planned qualifying contribution to the permanent endowment fund.
Box G: Amount Of Tax Credit
Calculate and enter 20 percent (0.20) of the total gift amount entered in Box F. Individual tax credits cannot exceed statutory limits per taxpayer per tax year, subject to aggregate state cap allocations.
Box H: Name Of Qualified Community Foundation Or Affiliate Foundation
Enter the complete legal name of the approved foundation certified under KRS 147A.325 that will hold or administer the permanent endowment.
Foundation Address And Contact Numbers
Enter the complete street address or post office box, city, state, and ZIP code of the qualified foundation, along with its telephone number and fax number.
Box I: Foundation Federal Identification Number
Enter the nine-digit Federal Identification Number (FEIN) of the qualified community foundation or affiliate foundation receiving the endowment gift.
Box J: Permanent Endowment Fund Or County-Specific Component Fund
If applicable, enter the specific name of the permanent endowment fund or county-specific component fund established within the foundation that is designated to receive the contribution.
Authorization And Release Sections
Taxpayer Declaration And Signature
Signature Of Taxpayer Or Authorized Representative
The individual taxpayer, fiduciary, or authorized corporate officer must sign the legal declaration under penalties of perjury, verifying that all statements, numbers, and attached schedules are true, correct, and complete.
Date
Enter the date the application is signed.
Print Name
Type or legibly print the full name of the person signing the document.
Title
If the application is signed on behalf of a business entity, trust, or estate, enter the official title (such as Managing Member, President, General Partner, or Trustee). Individual filers may leave this blank or write “Taxpayer.”
Department Of Revenue Use Only
Preliminary Authorization Area
This section is reserved entirely for Department of Revenue personnel to record the authorized credit amount, the signature of the reviewing state official, and the date the preliminary allocation is formally granted. Do not write or mark in this section.
Consent To Release Preliminary Authorization
Taxpayer Release Waiver
Under Kentucky confidentiality statutes (KRS 131.190 and KRS 131.081), taxpayer credit records are strictly protected from unauthorized disclosure. This optional section allows the Department of Revenue to notify the recipient foundation directly when your credit is approved.
To grant consent:
- Fill in the printed legal name of the taxpayer in the first authorization blank.
- Fill in the exact name of the qualified community foundation, affiliate foundation, or county-specific component fund in the designated recipient line.
- Provide the formal signature of the taxpayer or authorized signer and enter the signature date.
Final Review Before Filing
Before submitting Form 41A720-S85, verify the following requirements:
- Ensure the recipient foundation is currently certified under KRS 147A.325 as a qualified community foundation or affiliate foundation.
- Verify that the tax credit amount entered in Box G equals exactly 20 percent of the endowment gift entered in Box F.
- Double-check that all nine digits of the taxpayer SSN or FEIN and the foundation FEIN are entered accurately.
- For corporate filers, confirm that the Kentucky Corporation/LLET Account Number is correct and properly padded with leading zeros if necessary.
- Ensure the application is signed and dated by an authorized representative in the Taxpayer Declaration section.
- If you want the receiving community foundation to receive direct notification of your approval, verify that the Consent to Release section is completely filled out and signed.
- Submit the application promptly via email to
DORTaxCredits@ky.govor via hand delivery to the Department of Revenue security desk in Frankfort.