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  • How do I apply for the credit?
View All Individual Income Tax, Volunteer Emergency Responders Tax Credit FAQs

How do I apply for the credit?

    • If you qualify, you must pre-certify your credit prior to filing your Alabama tax return, by submitting a completed copy of the Emergency Responders Tax Credit Certificate to the Alabama Department of Revenue (ALDOR) through My Alabama Taxes. Note: If you are signing the certificate as both the Volunteer Emergency Responder and the certifying supervisor, documentation should be included to verify that you are the department head.

 

    • Pre-certification can be completed with or without a My Alabama Taxes account, but the submission MUST be made for the taxpayer listed on the certificate, even when filing a joint return. Read detailed instructions for submitting credit requests through My Alabama Taxes.
Related FAQs in Individual Income Tax, Volunteer Emergency Responders Tax Credit
    • You must train a minimum of 30 hours each year through either of these methods:
      • Participate in organized training in a class approved for use in fire service or emergency medical services in providing service as a firefighter.
      • Participate in organized training in a class approved for use in rescue squad and emergency medical services in providing service as a rescue squad member.
    • The Volunteer Emergency Responders Tax Credit is a tax credit available to a qualified volunteer firefighter or a qualified rescue squad member. To be qualified, you must meet certain criteria as a volunteer firefighter or an emergency medical technician or paramedic and obtain certain approved training each year.
    • Individuals may be required to substantiate that eligibility requirements have been met for each year in which the credit is claimed.
    • You should report the approved credit amount on the Schedule OC when you file your Alabama tax return.
    • ALDOR will review and verify credit requests in the order that they are received. We will send an email and/or My Alabama Taxes message to the email address/account used to submit the credit request when this process is complete.
      • If the credit amount requested is reduced or if the credit request is disallowed, we will provide additional information  through My Alabama Taxes.
    • If approved, you should claim the amount approved on your Alabama tax return.
    • You can obtain a copy of the certificate at Forms.
    • Yes. You must apply for the credit each year for which you are planning to file an Alabama tax return and claim the credit.