blake
Life Member
NEWS:
From the Iowa DNR:
The Wild Section of Your Tax Form
BOONE - Tax time is not normally associated with natural resources, but in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
</st1:State>Iowa, doing your state taxes is also one of the easiest ways to support <ST1
<st1:State w:st="on">Iowa</st1:State></ST1's wildlife. The Chickadee Check-off, or Fish and Wildlife fund as it is now listed, was added to the tax form by the legislature in the early 1980s to give tax payers an opportunity to donate, via their state tax form, to wildlife conservation in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Iowa</st1:State>. This addition to the form helped establish the Iowa DNR's Wildlife Diversity program, and the donated money is still a primary funding source.
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"Before the Wildlife Diversity Program was established, there were no staff or funds dedicated to the more than 800 wildlife species in the state that weren't classified as sport fish and game," said Stephanie Shepherd, biologist with the Wildlife Diversity Program, "The fish and wildlife fund made it possible for the DNR to include all wildlife in our management efforts." Some specific programs the tax check-off funds have helped make happen has been the successful return to the state of peregrine falcons, ospreys and trumpeter swans, the purchase of land for public enjoyment of wildlife, the hosting of fun and educational events honoring bald eagles and prairie chickens, research and much more.
Unfortunately, donations to this fund have been on the decline. "In 2008 we had the fewest people donate in the check-off's almost 30-year history, and the total amount donated was down by over 20 percent from what it was just 6 years ago," said Shepherd.
Hard economic times take a toll on charitable giving, but that's not the whole story since the fund has been steadily decreasing for some years now. Shepherd speculates that part of the cause may be that more people seem to be using tax preparers and electronic programs to do their taxes.
"The contribution line on which the check-off is located is kind of hidden and is located at the end of the state's long tax form on line 58. It is easy to pass over and forget and many tax preparers may not remember to ask whether a client wants to donate," she said. She said that some electronic tax programs available are not set up to ask about the contribution line either. "It may be up to the tax payer to remind their preparer or check out the completeness of the electronic program they are using."
Despite this initial effort, donating on the tax form is extremely easy; simply write the amount you want to donate next to the tax check-off of your choice and the sum is either automatically deducted from your refund or added to the amount you owe. There are no administrative costs so every penny donated goes to wildlife conservation in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Iowa</st1:State>, and the amount is deductible from next year's taxes.
For more information about the Fish/Wildlife Fund, contact Stephanie Shepherd at stephanie.shepherd@dnr.iowa.gov.
From the Iowa DNR:
The Wild Section of Your Tax Form
BOONE - Tax time is not normally associated with natural resources, but in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
<st1:State w:st="on">Iowa</st1:State></ST1's wildlife. The Chickadee Check-off, or Fish and Wildlife fund as it is now listed, was added to the tax form by the legislature in the early 1980s to give tax payers an opportunity to donate, via their state tax form, to wildlife conservation in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1Iowa</st1:State>. This addition to the form helped establish the Iowa DNR's Wildlife Diversity program, and the donated money is still a primary funding source. <O
"Before the Wildlife Diversity Program was established, there were no staff or funds dedicated to the more than 800 wildlife species in the state that weren't classified as sport fish and game," said Stephanie Shepherd, biologist with the Wildlife Diversity Program, "The fish and wildlife fund made it possible for the DNR to include all wildlife in our management efforts." Some specific programs the tax check-off funds have helped make happen has been the successful return to the state of peregrine falcons, ospreys and trumpeter swans, the purchase of land for public enjoyment of wildlife, the hosting of fun and educational events honoring bald eagles and prairie chickens, research and much more.
Unfortunately, donations to this fund have been on the decline. "In 2008 we had the fewest people donate in the check-off's almost 30-year history, and the total amount donated was down by over 20 percent from what it was just 6 years ago," said Shepherd.
Hard economic times take a toll on charitable giving, but that's not the whole story since the fund has been steadily decreasing for some years now. Shepherd speculates that part of the cause may be that more people seem to be using tax preparers and electronic programs to do their taxes.
"The contribution line on which the check-off is located is kind of hidden and is located at the end of the state's long tax form on line 58. It is easy to pass over and forget and many tax preparers may not remember to ask whether a client wants to donate," she said. She said that some electronic tax programs available are not set up to ask about the contribution line either. "It may be up to the tax payer to remind their preparer or check out the completeness of the electronic program they are using."
Despite this initial effort, donating on the tax form is extremely easy; simply write the amount you want to donate next to the tax check-off of your choice and the sum is either automatically deducted from your refund or added to the amount you owe. There are no administrative costs so every penny donated goes to wildlife conservation in <st1:State w:st="on"><ST1
Iowa</st1:State>, and the amount is deductible from next year's taxes. For more information about the Fish/Wildlife Fund, contact Stephanie Shepherd at stephanie.shepherd@dnr.iowa.gov.