Checkoff History

Checkoff Colorado targets taxpayers, financial planners, CPAs and other tax preparers.

More than 35 years ago, Colorado became the first state in the country to allow a taxpayer to "check-off" a voluntary contribution to a state program. In 1977, the Colorado Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund became the first state income tax check-off fund in the United States. Today there are hundreds of check-off programs in nearly every state in the country.

Every year, U.S. taxpayers contribute tens of millions of dollars to a diverse range of programs. Check-off contributions are typically voluntary donations from a taxpayer's refund, but they can also come from an additional amount voluntarily added to a taxpayer's liability. Nationwide, the most common funds support wildlife preservation, political campaigns, child abuse and neglect prevention, and U.S. Olympic committees.