LANSING – State Representative Kate Ebli (D-Monroe) announced that Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm this week signed into law a plan establishing voluntary income tax check-off boxes to allow citizens to more conveniently make donations to funds that fight breast cancer and prostate cancer.
"As a breast cancer survivor, I believe this is an important way that our state can support life-saving programs," Ebli said. "Michigan already offers voluntary income tax check-offs for funds such as the Children of Veterans Tuition Grant Program. Establishing voluntary income tax check-offs to support breast cancer and prostate cancer funds will provide Michigan residents with another way to give back to the community. This new check-off option is completely voluntary."
Check-off boxes, which allow taxpayers to designate a portion of their tax refund, 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.
The law will 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 Housing and Community Development Fund. The check-offs would be part of a separate contributions schedule listing all check-off options in alphabetical order.