The Iowa Firefighters Association is the Voice of Iowa’s Firefighters

The Iowa Firefighters Association was organized in 1879. There are now approximately 15,500 volunteer and career firefighters from across Iowa that make up the membership of the I.F.A. The Iowa Firefighters Association is dedicated to the improvement of Iowa’s Fire Service and protection of the general public through legislation, better training, minimum standards for apparatus and equipment, fire prevention, public relations and information.
Members receive a monthly issue of the Iowa Firefighter, benefits of State and Federal legislative lobbying, networking opportunities through annual convention and meetings and the chance to help improve the Iowa Fire Service.

Enrollment is now open for the new IFA Rewards App!!

Earn $100’s in rewards for yourself and the IFA just by making your everyday purchases and paying through the app!

You can earn cash back for yourself on things you purchase every day and a percentage will go back to the association to help keep membership costs low.

Click here to sign up now!!

The links below list retailers that currently accept the app for payment as well as information for 2 great contests – one for members referring their friends, and one for departments that have the most number of apps signed up under their name!!!

Retailers in Iowa IFA Rewards App Referral Contest IFA Rewards App Referral Department Contest

Forming a 501c3

In light of the recent events that have taken place in some towns, and the highly publicized case in Shelby, IA, there has been a great deal of controversy about fundraising and whether those funds raised belong to the department or the city. The Iowa Firefighters Association has, for quite some time, promoted the idea that fire departments should form a separate 501c3 association for the purpose of fundraising. If your department has not formed a separate entity for fundraising it would be worth looking into the benefits and things to consider when doing so. You can read more information on this here….Public Benefit Non Profit Corporation for Fire and EMS Volunteers

Volunteer Firefighter and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel and Reserve Peace Officer Tax Credit for the 2017 Tax Year

Effective January 1, 2013 the Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Tax Credit was available for volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS personnel. Effective January 1, 2014, the Reserve Peace Officer Tax Credit will be available for volunteer reserve peace officers. In order to qualify for the credits the taxpayer must meet the conditions listed below.

Qualifying Conditions

For Volunteer Firefighters:

Must be an active member of an organized volunteer fire department in Iowa.
Must meet the minimum training standards established by the Fire Service Training Bureau, a division of the Iowa Department of Public Safety.
A paid firefighter who volunteers for another fire department is eligible for the credit, effective January 1, 2014.

For Volunteer Emergency Medical Services Personnel:

Must be trained to provide emergency medical care, certified as a first responder, and been issued a certificate by the Iowa Department of Public Health.
A paid EMS personnel member who volunteers for another department is eligible for the credit, effective January 1, 2013.

For Reserve Peace Officers:

Must be a volunteer, non-regular, sworn member of a law enforcement agency who serves with or without compensation, has regular police powers while functioning as a law enforcement agency’s representative, and participates on a regular basis in the law enforcement agency’s activities including crime prevention and control, preservation of the peace, and enforcement of the law.
Must have met the minimum training standards established by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.

Amount of the Tax Credit

For tax year 2017, the tax credit equals $100 if the volunteer serves for the entire calendar year 2017. If the volunteer does not serve the entire year, the $100 credit will be prorated based on the number of months that the volunteer served. If the volunteer served for a portion of a month, that will be considered as an entire month. The table below provides the qualifying amount of tax credit by months of service for the year.

Number of Months of Service	Amount of Tax Credit	Number of Months of Service	Amount of Tax Credit
1	$8	7	$58
2	$17	8	$67
3	$25	9	$75
4	$33	10	$83
5	$42	11	$92
6	$50	12	$100

If an individual serves in more than one position as a volunteer firefighter, volunteer EMS personnel, and reserve peace officer, the credit can only be claimed for one volunteer position. One credit can be claimed on the IA 1040.

Written Statement Requirements

Taxpayers claiming the tax credit are required to have a written statement (tax credit template)from the fire chief, the chief of police, sheriff, commissioner of public safety, or other appropriate supervisor verifying that the individual was a volunteer for the number of months that are being claimed. These letters do not have to be included with a filed return, but must be produced by the taxpayer upon request by the Iowa Department of Revenue (IDR). It is recommended that the statement contain the following information: Volunteer Name, Fire Department or EMS Service Name or Police Department, Number of Months of Service for the Year, Amount of Qualifying Credit, and the Name, Title, and Signature of the official authorizing the credit.

Recordkeeping Recommendations

It is recommended that volunteer fire departments, EMS services, or police departments maintain a record of the letters that are authorized in the event that IDR requests a list of authorized credit recipients. It is recommended that these lists be kept for at least three years.

Since 2014, IFA and California Casualty have shared a great relationship advocating for Iowa’s firefighters and their families and providing exclusive benefits. As our relationship is still fairly new, I am excited to announce that I am the new California Casualty representative for the men and women of IFA.

My career has always been focused on Iowa heroes. I have lead collaborative initiatives serving law enforcements, fire and EMS, legal, and medical entities in matters that focused on uniting these wonderful professionals to a stronger partnership. Now I am honored to have a similar goal of providing the best support and service possible to such deserving individuals.

I look forward to working with association members directly and through IFA and California Casualty’s partnership. I value the opportunity to learn about the associations goals and successes as well as needs. I hope to add an exclusive value by promoting the many California Casualty benefits and being a local support through department and association meetings, conferences, local events, and community events. I respect and value the time I am given and commit to making the best out of it by being an approachable resource and welcomed friend.

Under the blessing of the association, I look forward to reaching out to departments to schedule a few minutes of time to serve our members and promote exclusive benefits. Our current $10,000 Dewalt giveaway as well as a statewide rate reduction are just a couple of the exclusive aspects to IFA members that I’m excited to share.

Beyond local contacts, please let me know how I could be of service to the members of IFA. You can contact me directly at 641-485-4413 or email swhitmore@calcas.com.

If you haven’t already done so lately, take a quick look at California Casualty’s great rates and unique policy features by calling 1-866-402-2587.

Best regards,

Stephanie Whitmore

AD&D Benefit for IFA Members:

The Iowa Firefighters Association has partnered with American Income Life Insurance Company to provide a NO COST Accidental Death or Dismemberment Program for our members.

Features:

$2500 AD&D Benefit
Health Services Discount Card
Child Safe Kits
And More.

You will be receiving a letter in the mail notifying you of these benefits. Please fill out the enclosed response card or fill out the online card on the web site mentioned in the letter. Once your card is returned an AIL representative will contact you to deliver your no cost benefits and explain additional insurance coverage available on a voluntary basis.

You must be an Iowa Firefighters Association member to receive these Benefits.

Lighthouse Uniform Company’s Bereavement Uniform Program

The Lighthouse Uniform Company, long known for its Fallen Fire Fighter Dress Uniform Program, has dropped the LODD requirement and has expanded the program’s scope to make a dress uniform available to any firefighter’s family wanting one for burial purposes.

The Program, being called the Bereavement Uniform Program, is a collaborative effort. It calls for departments and firefighters to check the ‘closet’ for uniforms ‘retired’ or no longer fitting and to send them in to the Lighthouse.

The Lighthouse cleans, refurbishes, reconfigures to rank and makes them available to any family requesting one for burial purposes, overnight if necessary, at ‘no cost’ to the family. The only charge is for freight which will be billed to the affiliated department.

Access to the Bereavement Uniform Program is at http://bereavement.lighthouseuniform.com .