State Income Tax Checkoff

Georgians can also support our state's nongame wildlife at tax time each year. Created in 1989, the state income tax checkoff provides an easy way for Georgians to donate to the Wildlife Conservation Fund. By filling in a dollar amount on line 26 of the long form (Form 500) or line 10 of the short form (Form 500-EZ), citizens can make a direct donation to support nongame species management and conservation in Georgia.

What is often called the Give Wildlife a Chance state income tax checkoff has been a success since its creation in 1989. Thanks to the generosity of Georgians, more than $6 million has been raised as of 2009. Contributions played a part in many conservation achievements, varying from the restoration of bald eagle populations to land acquisitions such as the prized Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area near Bainbridge.

Giving through the state income tax checkoff declined in the latter half of the first decade of 2000. The $234,758 contributed in fiscal 2009 was 20 percent, or nearly $60,000, less than the previous year.

Net contributions have averaged $315,000 since 1989, with a high of $510,910 collected in 1991 and a low of $184,065 in 1994.

Checkoff contributions made up 10 percent of Wildlife Conservation Fund revenues for fiscal 2008 and 2009.

For more information by phone, call Nongame Conservation Section offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218).

State income tax forms are available online at https://etax.dor.ga.gov/.

For media: A file with images including the Give Wildlife a Chance checkoff logo and a print advertisement for the checkoff can be downloaded at www.georgiawildlife.com/news/press-kits. The file is named "Nongame advertisements."