Make a Mark for Wildlife: Remember Arizona’s Wildlife at Tax Time

The Arizona Wildlife Fund is a voluntary program that allows Arizona taxpayers to help conserve the state’s wildlife simply by marking the “Arizona Wildlife” box on the annual state tax return.

Since Arizona started the program more than 25 years ago, contributions to the fund have aided the conservation and reintroduction of many species, including bald eagles, black-footed ferrets, California condors, Apache trout, Mexican wolves and several of the state’s most intriguing desert reptiles and amphibians.

The Arizona Wildlife Fund box first appeared on the state income tax form in 1982. Money goes to the Arizona Game, Nongame, Fish and Endangered Species Fund to benefit hundreds of nongame species

of animals. Nongame wildlife is those species that are neither hunted nor fished in a traditional sense.

Arizona is one of 41 states that allows taxpayers to make a voluntary, tax deductible contribution to worthwhile causes. 
 
The cumulative effect of taxpayer donations allows the Arizona Game and Fish Department to provide vital support to help protect one of Arizona’s greatest natural treasures – its diverse wildlife – and to ensure that the public has opportunities to view and enjoy these species. The tax check-off is a means for both hunters and non-hunters to contribute towards wildlife management in Arizona.

Arizona taxpayers have donated more than $5 million to the conservation of nongame animals. In 2007, the most recent year for which figures are available, the average donation was more than $21.

If you are interested in helping wildlife conservation, inform your tax preparer that you want to Make a Mark for Wildlife. Remember: every dollar counts!

For more information on the Nongame Program and endangered species conservation in Arizona, click here.

These Tax Preparers support the Arizona Wildlife Fund and by doing so, support wildlife conservation
Liberty Tax Service	R.J. Ryan Financial Robert’s Accounting & Tax Service LLC Ken Dusseau, PC
Accounting & Tax Management, Inc