Giving

How to Direct Your Tax Liability to Help Wheaton Academy Students

Use this step-by-step guide to donate to Invest in Kids, a tax credit scholarship program.

Step-By-Step Guide

1. Set Up Your MyTax Account

You must establish a MyTax IL account prior to participating in this program. In order to set up your MyTax IL account, you will need to acquire a Letter ID. The Letter ID is a pin number assigned to you by the state of Illinois. For security purposes, this Letter ID is sent to you via US mail. If you previously set up a MyTax account, you can skip this step and begin at Step 2.

  • Go to: MyTax.Illinois.gov
  • Under INDIVIDUALS, select Request a Letter ID
  • Enter your social security number, driver’s license number, and email address
  • A Letter ID will be sent to you via US mail
  • Once you receive your Letter ID, return to MyTax.Illinois.gov and select Sign Up
  • Enter your social security number and Submit
  • When prompted, select Yes and complete the online form to activate your account

2. Reserve Your Tax Credit

Once you have established your MyTax IL account, you can reserve your tax credit. If you have not already, set up two-step verification for your account. Add your email address and enter the security code sent to you.

  • Log in to your MyTax Illinois account at MyTax.Illinois.gov
  • Click on View More Account Options
  • Under Account Options select Contribute to Invest in Kids

Information you will need to complete step 2:

Invest in Kids Region

Region: 2

Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO): Empower Illinois

Amount: Full amount of contribution (not tax credit amount)

3. Retrieve your Contribution Authorization Certificate (CAC) from MyTax Illinois

  • Log in to your MyTax Illinois account at MyTax.Illinois.gov
  • Select View More Account Options
  • Under Letters and Messages select View Account Letters

Your Contribution Authorization Certificate (CAC) should appear unless you are unable to access it due to a computer pop-up block. Save the CAC to your computer so that you will be able to upload it to Empower Illinois. If you are contributing via check, print both pages of the CAC to include with your contribution.

4. Contribute to Empower Illinois

Once you have your CAC, you are ready to make your donation with Empower Illinois.

Information you will need to complete step 4:

Your saved Contribution Authorization Certificate, the certificate number, and due date found on page 2

Region: 2

You are making a contribution as an: Individual

Designee: Wheaton Academy

Donor Authorization: Check box #1 and #2 only or your contribution may not be designated to Wheaton Academy students