Creating an individual income tax checkoff for donations to the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial, Inc., and making an appropriation. (FE)
The bill modifies existing statutes regarding income tax checkoffs by creating additional provisions for not only allowing new checkoffs but also streamlining the process for how donations are managed. Taxpayers now have a clear avenue to contribute, which both honors the service of firefighters and ensures ongoing funding for the memorial. The impact of this bill could potentially lead to increased funding for the memorial, enhancing its significance and visibility within the community while allowing the state to better manage philanthropic contributions.
Assembly Bill 946 establishes a new individual income tax checkoff for donations specifically directed towards the Wisconsin Fire & EMS Memorial, Inc. This permanent checkoff aims to support the construction, upkeep, and enhancement of the memorial honoring firefighters and emergency medical services personnel. Starting from the 2024 taxable years, taxpayers will be able to designate funds from their tax refunds or additional payments to this memorial as part of their tax filing process, providing them with a direct way to support local heroes.
Despite the positive implications, there may be contention regarding the number of total checkoffs allowed on the tax forms. Existing laws limit the number of permanent checkoffs to ten. The introduction of AB946 could lead to discussions about which existing checkoffs may need to be removed to accommodate this new addition, especially if they are not meeting the required average contributions. This could create pushback from established checkoff causes that may feel threatened by the addition of a new checkoff option.
Moreover, the bill includes mechanisms for handling administrative costs associated with managing the checkoff, ensuring that a significant portion of the funds designated for the memorial goes directly to it after covering necessary administrative expenses. This structured approach aims to ensure transparency and maintain taxpayer trust in how their donations are allocated.