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.

Thanks to the generosity of Georgians, what is often called the Give Wildlife a Chance state income tax checkoff has raised more than $6.75 million. Contributions played a part in many conservation achievements, varying from the restoration of bald eagle populations to land acquisitions available for public recreation such as prized Silver Lake Wildlife Management Area near Bainbridge and thousands of acres of prime wildlife habitat along the Altamaha River.

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

The checkoff made up 12 percent of Wildlife Conservation Fund revenues in fiscal 2012.

For more information, 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 a print advertisement for the checkoff can be downloaded at www.georgiawildlife.com/news/press-kits. The file is named "Nongame advertisements."

The Give Wildlife a Chance checkoff logo and wildlife photographs are available in the “Ga. wildlife tax checkoff” set at www.flickr.com/wildliferesourcesdivision.