Tour the Food Bank of Delaware’s new Milford warehouse and café
The site includes a 67,000-square-foot building, 3.5-acre garden and 3,000-square-foot packing house for the garden crops.
Another year, another tax season – well, almost.
While Tax Day has passed for federal taxes, Delawareans have until April 30 to file 2024 state personal income taxes.
When you file, you’ll be asked if you want to donate to one or several organizations.
Here’s what to know about those donations.
What are voluntary tax contributions?
When someone files a personal income tax return, they can “designate part of their refund or add to their balance due a donation” to one or many of “the 21 approved charitable contributions” listed, according to Delaware Division of Revenue Director Kathy Revel.
These funds are then collected and transferred to listed organizations.
Income tax form checkoff donation programs began in Colorado in 1977 and quickly spread to other states.
Combined, states now offer 433 checkoff programs, nearly double the number from 20 years ago, according to the Federation of Tax Administrators.
New York tops the list with 33 options, New Jersey follows with 31 and Oregon with 28 donation choices, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Minnesota and Nebraska each offer just one program for wildlife conservation.
How much do tax filers donate?
In 2024, 1,933 Delaware tax returns included donations, some to multiple organizations. There were a total of 5,311 contributions amounting to $206,038, according to data from the Delaware Department of Finance.
The Food Bank of Delaware and Habitat for Humanity have consistently received the most money over the past few years.
How to make donations?
- When filing, you must complete the DE Schedule III form to make a donation.
- Enter the amount of your donation next to the designated fund(s) of your choice.
- Enter the total amount donated on Line 42. The minimum amount for a donation is $1.
- If you are not due a refund but want to contribute, include the total amount of your donation with the balance due.
- If you’re filing electronically, you will be taken to the form automatically.
Delaware income tax filing deadline
The deadline for Delawareans to file their income taxes is April 30.
The state Division of Revenue recommends that taxpayers file electronically, as paper returns can take longer to process.
Taxpayers can file online for free on the state Taxpayer Portal or similar electronic filing programs.
Additional information can be found on the state Division of Revenue website.
Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at [email protected].
