Statewide Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is asking you to make a donation to help the state’s wildlife when you file your state taxes.
DNR wildlife biologist, Stephanie Shepherd, says the number of people who donate through the “Chickadee Check-off” has been dropping.
She says the amount of money has fortunately not dropped as much as the amount of donors. Shepherd says the donations go to species that don’t get funds from dedicated sources like hunting and fishing licenses.
She says there are probably several reasons the Chickadee Checkoff gets missed at tax time.
The check-offs are one of the last things you have to do in filling out your return, and Shepherd says that may work against them.
Shepherd says you don’t have to donate thousands of dollars to help out the cause.
The Fish and Wildlife Check-Off, line 57 on Form 1040. Or tell your tax preparer you’d like to donate to the fund.
