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Illinois State Tax Help
- How do I get more information about the Bright Start College Savings Program?
- Where can I find more information about the Bright Directions College Savings Program?
- What "College Illinois!" information is available on the Web?
- How can I find my Illinois PIN?
- What military pay may I subtract from my income?
- What military pay cannot be subtracted from income?
- What is an example of qualified lab fees?
- What education expenses do not qualify for this credit?
- Autoimmune Disease Research Fund
- Lung Cancer Research Fund
- What are estimated tax payments? What should I enter for this question?
- Wildlife Preservation Fund
- Child Abuse Prevention Fund
- Alzheimer's Research Fund
- Assistance to the Homeless Fund
- Penny Severns Breast, Cervical, and Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
- Military Family Relief Fund
- Illinois Veterans' Home Fund
- Diabetes Research Fund
How do I get more information about the Bright Start College Savings Program?
The Bright Start College Savings Program is a tax-advantaged Section 529 Plan that helps parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends nationwide save for a loved one's college education. For complete details and investment options, go to Bright Start Savings.
Where can I find more information about the Bright Directions College Savings Program?
The Bright Directions College Savings Program is part of the Illinois College Savings Pool and is designed to qualify as a Qualified Tuition Program under the provisions of Section 529 of the Internal Revenue code. The Bright Directions College Savings Program is sponsored by the State of Illinois and administered by the Illinois State Treasurer, as Trustee. For complete details and investment options, go to Bright Directions!.
What "College Illinois!" information is available on the Web?
"College Illinois!" is a 529 prepaid tuition program that allows parents and grandparents to pay for tuition today, which stops tuition inflation. Prepaid tuition benefits can be used at any college or university across the country. For complete details, go to http://www.collegeillinois.com/.
How can I find my Illinois PIN?
An Illinois PIN is used as a signature for e-filing your Illinois tax return.
If you filed form IL-1040 last year and don't remember your Illinois PIN, you can look it up by clicking here.
First-year Illinois residents can e-file using information from their driver's license as an alternate signature method.
If you filed form IL-1040 last year and don't remember your Illinois PIN, you can look it up by clicking here.
First-year Illinois residents can e-file using information from their driver's license as an alternate signature method.
What military pay may I subtract from my income?
You may subtract pay for the following:
- Duty in the armed forces, including basic training
- Duty for serving in the U.S. Armed Forces Reserves or a National Guard unit, including ROTC
- Duty as a cadet in the U.S. Military, Air Force, or Coast Guard academies, or as a midshipman in the U.S. Naval Academy
What military pay cannot be subtracted from income?
You may not subtract military income (certain combat pay) that you excluded from your adjusted gross income. So, if your military pay was not taxed by the IRS, then there is nothing to subtract on your Illinois return.
You may NOT subtract the following:
You may NOT subtract the following:
- Pay you received under the Voluntary Separation Incentive
- Pay you received from the military as a civilian
- Payments you made under the Ready Reserve Mobilization Income Insurance Program
- Pay for duty as an officer in the Public Health Service
What is an example of qualified lab fees?
An example of qualified lab fees is if you rented a musical instrument from the school (not from a business) for a class or for participation in an extracurricular activity that resulted in a credit toward completion of the school's education program. This rental expense qualifies as an education expense.
What education expenses do not qualify for this credit?
Education expenses that do not qualify for this credit include:
- Expenses paid for the purchase of supplies, books, or equipment that are not significantly used up during the school year (e.g., purchasing musical instruments or costumes for a play)
- Expenses paid for the use of supplies, equipment, materials, or instruments if the program does not result in a credit towards completion of the school's education program
- Expenses paid directly to a business (e.g., renting a musical instrument from a music store)
- Expenses for after school care, even if paid to the school
Autoimmune Disease Research Fund
There are more than 80 autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Graves' disease, and scleroderma, which force your body's immune system to attack itself by mistake. Your donations will
provide grants to public and private organizations to research
the treatment and cure of these diseases, which impact 5 to 8
percent of the population.
Lung Cancer Research Fund
Lung cancer is the third most prevalent form of cancer in Illinois. Contributions to this fund will support research grants to public and private not-for-profit entities to study methods of preventing lung cancer and finding better ways to treat it.
What are estimated tax payments? What should I enter for this question?
- Enter any estimated tax payments you made for 2009.
- Enter any overpayment applied from Line 35 of your 2008 return.
- Enter any amount prepaid with extension requests.
Wildlife Preservation Fund
Survival of Illinois' native plants and animals is an ever-growing challenge as important habitats are lost or degraded. Your contribution will pay for projects to help restore and manage habitats, monitor rare species, conduct research to help plan the recovery of endangered species, and educate Illinoisans about the values of our native species.
Child Abuse Prevention Fund
Last year the DCFS hotline received over 258,000 calls to report suspected child abuse. Your contribution will support programs in your community designed to help strengthen families to prevent abuse of their children.
Alzheimer's Research Fund
An estimated 210,000 Illinois residents suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Grants from this fund will help support important research to find a cure and treatment for this progressive and fatal brain disorder that is the fifth leading cause of death in Illinois for people 65 and older.
Assistance to the Homeless Fund
Your contribution supports local agencies that provide shelter, meals, and services needed by homeless families and individuals. The assistance given by the local not-for-profit organizations enables homeless people to regain residence in the community and maintain their independence.
Penny Severns Breast, Cervical, and Ovarian Cancer Research Fund
Breast, cervical, and ovarian cancers account for more than one-third of all cancers diagnosed in Illinois. Your contribution will help support research to find ways to prevent these cancers, as well as improve early detection and treatment.
Military Family Relief Fund
Thousands of members of the Illinois National Guard and reserves have been called to active duty since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Your contribution will help guard members, reservists, and members of their families defray expenses that become difficult to afford when a wage-earner temporarily leaves civilian employment for active military duty or is injured while performing such duty.
Illinois Veterans' Home Fund
Today, nearly a thousand combat veterans and their spouses have made a home at one of our facilities throughout the state. Contributions to this fund will be used to purchase supplies and equipment that will be used to enhance the lives of the veterans and improve the operations of the homes.
Diabetes Research Fund
Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of people and their families. An estimated 841,000 Illinois residents have diagnosed diabetes. The American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation will use your contribution to support scientific research on the causes and treatment of diabetes.
