Tax Check Off

Line 61: Check It to Help New Jersey’s Vietnam Veterans

By Jillian Decker, Director of Development

Did you know that New Jersey extended the deadline for filing income taxes to May 17? Here’s another tip you may not know about completing your 2020 New Jersey return: you can help Veterans in your community by making an additional donation on your Form 1040 to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Fund!

How to Donate

Consider making a donation to support Vietnam Veterans through the Income Tax Check-Off option available to all New Jersey filers. It’s a simple way to give – just look for Line 61 on your state income tax 1040 form, ask your tax preparer to do it, or wait to be prompted by your tax software, like TurboTax. You can choose from several set amounts, or decide to contribute a custom amount. Your contribution will go directly to the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Fund, free of any hidden fees.

How Will Your Donation Help?

Your contributions make a real, lasting impact in sustaining the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial and Museum. Without you, we would not be able to do our great work to honor our Veterans and to teach the next generations about the meaning of patriotism, through their experiences and sacrifice.

Revenue from the Check-Off supports our ceremonies, public and school programs, and exhibitions. We work with a diverse community that allows us to explore the complexities of the Vietnam Era in a way that remains relevant today. Our Vietnam Era Museum, the first and only of its kind, offers a meaningful and engaging experience of the history of the Vietnam Era, the War, and its lasting impact on American culture.

In 2020, NJVVMF pivoted to virtual programming, hosting ceremonies via live stream to bring veterans, families, and the community together to honor our heroes. Virtual ceremonies hosted by NJVVMF in 2020 included In Memory, Memorial Day, New Jersey Vietnam Veteran Remembrance Day, and Veterans Day. Although the Museum remains closed, online programming and events will continue to bring NJVVMF’s volunteer veteran tour guide’s stories to life. 

Questions?

If you have any questions about the Tax Check-Off, please reach out to NJVVMF Director of Development Jillian Decker at jdecker@njvvmf.org
If you have any questions about the NJVVMF, please visit our website at njvvmf.org for more information.

Remember Line 61

Your support by checking off Line 61 honors the 1,563 New Jerseyans whose names are engraved on the Memorial, provides for programs assisting Veterans and their families and helps us teach future generations about this unique time in our nation’s history at the Vietnam Era Museum.

This year, when you’re filing your New Jersey State Income Tax return, please Check-Off Line 61 for our Veterans and support the NJVVMF in recognizing the sacrifices, courage, and valor of Vietnam Veterans and their families.

Background

Established as a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1989, the NJVVMF remains rooted in our mission and our community, especially those who have served, those who continue to serve, and their families.

The New Jersey State Legislature created the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Fund in 1985. The Statute reads as follows:
New Jersey Statutes, Title: 54A, New Jersey Gross Income Tax Act
Chapter 9: Applicability of Tax Uniform Procedure Law

54A:9-25.6 Contribution to Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Fund; indication on the income tax return.

1.Each taxpayer shall have the opportunity to indicate on the taxpayer’s New Jersey gross income tax return that a portion of the taxpayer’s tax refund or an enclosed contribution shall be deposited in the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Fund established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1985, c.494 (C.52:18A-208). The Director of the Division of Taxation in the Department of the Treasury shall provide each taxpayer with the opportunity to indicate the taxpayer’s preference on the tax return to contribute to the fund in substantially the following way:

“Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Fund: I wish to contribute $10, $20 , other amount $___ to this fund.”

Any costs incurred by the Division of Taxation for collection or administration attributable to this act may be deducted from receipts collected pursuant to this act, as determined by the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting.

The State Treasurer shall deposit net contributions collected pursuant to this act into the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Fund.

L.1994,c.139,s.1; amended 1998, c.153, s.3.