Oregon Outlines Procedure to Donate Kicker Refund to a Specific Program

(SALEM , Ore.) - Because many Oregonians have inquired about how to donate their state income tax "kicker" refunds to specific state programs, the Oregon Department of Administrative Services has established a Web site that describes how to do it. According to the Website, oregon.gov/DAS/SCD/SRS/donations.shtml, a citizen should send a personal check, not an endorsed kicker check, to the desired state agency, board or commission. The Web site provides links to the mailing addresses.

Some citizens may want to contribute to specific school districts or charities. In this case, a taxpayer should deposit the kicker check into his or her personal checking account, and then send a personal check to the desired school district or charity.

"We want to emphasize that taxpayers should not mail their endorsed kicker checks to state agencies," said acting DAS director Kris Kautz.

"The state cannot process endorsed tax refunds, and we are unable to forward them to charities and other organizations. If you wish to donate the kicker refund to an agency, a school or a charity, you should first deposit the kicker check into your personal checking account. Then send your personal check to the desired agency, charity or school."

Nearly 14,000 taxpayers elected to contribute their kicker refunds to the State School Fund, and checked the appropriate box on their 2006 state income tax returns.

If a taxpayer checked that box, the decision is irrevocable. After depositing their kicker checks into their personal accounts, taxpayers may contribute directly to any state service or program. A donation to a state program may be tax deductible under IRS Section 170.

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Jefferson December 12, 2007 6:42 pm (Pacific time)

Neal this may be too pithy: The people wanted their money back, and regarding this past tax rate you alluded to has nothing to do with funding the maintenance of our infra-structure. Our tax money is being poured down a rathole to fund a growing list of entitlement programs and into a failed public educational system that has our students continually falling behind other countries who have even less funding, which you very clearly acknowledge everytime you debate me young man...so take some time and do something worthwhile with your time Neal, e.g. , take some courses in meterology and climatology (take Henry along so maybe he can audit), help a vet, get some counseling, etc. .

Henry Ruark December 11, 2007 6:18 am (Pacific time)

Nonentity now speaks from normal hiding place, perhaps result of too much water-board on brain. Without ID withheld from fear of final loss of any credibility here, we have no more information now than ever, including lack of any record of public service and performance,wildly attacked with insult for solid public record of other writer...that, too, part of demeaning, desperate desire to establish something other than defeat-by-own words here. Clues clearly now point to failed-rejected one-time so-called secret agency type, unable to ID self due to rapid referral to actual record. Happens own past experience includes contact with some in same situation --but not using it for psycho-appetite needs. IF not-so, simple answer is to set up solid ID with S-N editor, including direct channel now offered to this-one for 13th time...if any good-will intent exists.

Henry Ruark December 12, 2007 7:45 am (Pacific time)

To all: Reality seeping in for more on kicker, allatime. Corporate leaders even agreed to set up emergency fund with this large crop, sensing public view in plain sight. SO here comes sensible, reasonable, rational next-step if Legislature continues under constant "corporate campaign funds" ethically malignant influences: Pair seek to eliminate kicker checks to corporations They aim to get their initiative on the ballot in 2010 STEVE LAW Statesman Journal December 12, 2007 "Fresh after the state disbursed a record $1.07 billion in personal "kicker" tax rebates, a pair of activists want to end future rebates for corporations. "Sal Peralta and Travis Diskin said they're introducing a ballot initiative to amend the Oregon Constitution and eliminate corporate kickers. "Their initiative would not tamper with individual personal tax kickers. "They argue that the bulk of the corporate rebates get sent to out-of-state companies. Although their measure won't specify where the money should go, they say it could be better used to build up state reserves or spent on higher education, senior services and other priorities." Please note that profiting corporations based out of state now avoid nearly all Oregon tax payment by variety of subterfuges, legal and otherwise. SO nonentity-nonsense re small response remains just that --nonsense. Reality is that Oregonians far too sharp to continue shooting self in...major organ, unnamed here...via hard-swallow on costly subterfuge using funds far better spent-for-all via respectable legislative action by responsible electives. That's what Constitution sets up. IF we failing to get that now, fix is built-in, too.

Henry Ruark December 12, 2007 7:28 am (Pacific time)

To all: Again, neocon nonentity shouts nonsense, then runs to cover. For every point he claims here, there is "conservative" leader who has quit and written revealing book. So happens I have huge collection since been writing ever since '70s on same stupid nonentity-claims. For 21st time, offer direct contact to nonentity via ID to editor, to make possible full exchange of PDFs, CDs, book lists, and even personal correspondence with leaders on both sides of aisle --as well as mine own published stuff. Until, unless ID-here, this is simply so much political pish-and-tusch on his part, and knowingly so since now constantly challenged here. To project otherwise, let him ID-self, name public service posts held, list his publications, otherwise fully substantiate any claim to any credibility, in open, honest, democratic channel. We others do so as part of good faith working contract with readers, including "see with own eyes" and make up own mind, on sources and essential statements. Meanwhile read his stuff and shudder...then see whether you better off today, for self and family, than from Reagan Era beginnings of this now world scourge of neocon consequences steadily eroding globe and life possibilities for all of us.

Neal Feldman December 11, 2007 11:55 pm (Pacific time)

Jefferson - you clearly have no clue.. something you show quite often. Back in the 50s-60s the high end tax rate was in the 90% range... it is around 35% today. The difference was the rich paid more so the middle class paid less. So much for your ignorance laced BS. And so long as the infrastructure is neglected and the budgets for senior and disabled services are refilled from the state they have been since being decimated every session for the past 2 decades of recessions there is no such thing as 'excess taxes'. Ah well...

Jefferson December 11, 2007 2:09 pm (Pacific time)

Approximately .72% (that is less than 1% by the way) gave their kicker back to the state. That is statistically nil for you on the far left. P.S. It would probably be even lower had people known that by checking the "return the kicker box" when filing their taxes was an undoable act. We need less taxes and more accountibility. There was a time when we were paying far less in taxes and our publically-educated school kids could read, write and solve their math problems, plus our roads and infra-structure was constantly updated. It seems the "bluer" it gets politically, the worse things get for the American citizens. Can someone prove otherwise? Of course not!

Janet December 11, 2007 8:44 am (Pacific time)

I am happy for some of the taxpayers who contributed their funds to the State. I am taking mine and cashing it in for Christmas gifts. The state of Oregon has a bad track record in how they utilize their money. It seemed like it almost hurt the Governor to give back to the people in his state.....that is sad.

Jefferson December 10, 2007 6:04 pm (Pacific time)

14,000 v.s hundreds of thousands who feel they have better control over their money that Goldshmidt's puppies and wannabes. Eachus (a Goldschmidty)...a self-called peace activist who comes from a gene pool that are all quite similar. Millions died when we left Vietnam so these peace activists claim some kind of very hollow victory...yeah he's been there and done that, which is absolutely nothing other than to live off the blood and sacrifice of others.

Henry Ruark December 10, 2007 11:36 am (Pacific time)

To all: Note this most-telling line in story above: "Nearly 14,000 taxpayers elected to contribute their kicker refunds to the State School Fund, and checked the appropriate box on their 2006 state income tax returns." Good to see so many doing the cogitation for themselves, as well as the arithmetic. They are probably also on way to sensible cogitation on the corporate tax reforms so badly needed, including really drastic changes in national joke "$10 minimum corporate tax" and that fully-ongoing corrupting "corporate campaign contributions" now painfully acknowledged by lobbyist suit. For solid sense, see Ron Eachus Op Ed in S/J this morning; he's "been there, done that" so can hardly be chrged with inexperience or inexactitudes by any neocon masqueraded as "conservative".

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