LANSING – State Representative Kate Ebli (D-Monroe) today announced that the House has passed legislation that will establish voluntary income tax check-off boxes to allow citizens to more conveniently make donations to funds that fight breast cancer and prostate cancer.
"Michigan already has voluntary income tax check-offs for valuable funds such as the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Program," Ebli said. "By establishing additional voluntary income tax check-offs for funds that support programs for breast cancer and prostate cancer, we are providing Michigan residents with another way to give back to the community. As a breast cancer survivor, I believe this is an important way that we can support programs that save lives."
Check-off boxes, which allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their tax return, are commonly used on income tax forms. Michigan currently has income tax check-offs for the Children's Trust Fund, the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Program and the Military Family Relief Fund. In 2004, 4.4 million taxpayers filed income tax Form 1040, and about 53,000 contributed to the Military Family Relief Fund, according to the state Department of Treasury.
This legislation would add check-off boxes on the income tax Form 1040 allowing check-offs for the Prostate Cancer Research Fund, Amanda's Fund for Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment, the Animal Welfare Fund, and the Michigan House and Community Development Fund. The check-offs would be part of a separate contributions schedule listing all check-off options in alphabetical order.
The legislation now heads to the Senate.