The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis has confirmed a more than $5.61 billion revenue surplus in the 2021-2023 biennium, triggering a tax surplus credit, or “kicker,” for the 2023 tax year.

The surplus -- the largest in state history -- will be returned to taxpayers through a credit on their 2023 state personal income tax returns filed in 2024. The credit is based on tax liability for the 2022 tax year. Taxpayers who have not yet filed a 2022 tax return, should file now so they can claim their kicker credit when they file their 2023 tax return.

The surplus leaves some asking, "Why are we still raising taxes and proposing removing the cap on property taxes when we have such lopsided surpluses?"

To calculate the amount of their credit, taxpayers can multiply their 2022 tax liability before any credits -- line 22 on the 2022 Form OR-40 -- by 44.28 percent. This percentage is determined and certified by OEA. Taxpayers who claimed a credit for tax paid to another state would need to subtract the credit amount from their liability before calculating the credit.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Personal income taxpayers can also determine the amount of their kicker using a What’s My Kicker? Calculator available on Revenue Online. To use the calculator, taxpayers will need to enter their name, Social Security Number, and filing status for 2022 and 2023.

Personal Income Kicker History
Biennium	Tax Year	Surplus in $M	Percent	Mean Distribution
1979-81	1981	-$141	None	-
1981-83	1983	-$115	None	-
1983-85	1985	$89	7.70%	$80
1985-87	1987	$221	16.60%	$190
1987-89	1989	$175	9.80%	$130
1989-91	1991	$186	Suspended	-
1991-93	1993	$60	None	-
1993-95	1994/5	$163	6.27%	$110
1995-97	1996/7	$432	14.37%	$290
1997-99	1998/9	$167	4.57%	$100
1999-01	2000/1	$254	6.02%	$160
2001-03	2002/3	-$1,249	None	-
2003-05	2004/5	-$401	None	-
2005-07	2006/7	$1,071	18.60%	$610
2007-09	2008	-$1,113	None	-
2009-11	2010	-$1,050	None	-
2011-13	2012	$124	None	-
2013-15	2014	$402	5.60%	$210
2015-17	2016	$464	5.60%	$250
2017-19	2018	$1,688	17.17%	$910
2019-21	2020	$1,898	17.34%	$990
2021-23	2022	$5,619	44.28%

Taxpayers are eligible to claim the kicker if they filed a 2022 tax return and had tax due before credits. Even taxpayers who don't have a filing obligation for 2023, still must file a 2023 tax return to claim their credit. The 2023 Oregon personal income tax return instructions will include detailed information on how to claim the credit on Form OR-40 for full-year Oregon residents, Form OR-40-P for part-year residents, and Form OR-40-N for nonresidents. Composite and fiduciary-income tax return filers are also eligible.

Taxpayers should keep in mind that the state may use all or part of their kicker to pay any state debt they owe, such as tax due for other years, child support, court fines, or school loans.

Taxpayers can donate their kicker with a checkbox on their tax return to the Oregon State School Fund for K-12 public education, but they must donate the entire amount. The donation is permanent and cannot be taken back.

Taxpayers also have the option of donating part or all of their refund to any or all of the 29 charities approved by the Charitable Checkoff Commission. Taxpayers use Form OR-DONATE to designate any amount or all of their refund to donate to charity.

Free tax preparation services are available for both federal and Oregon tax returns. Some software companies offer free software use and e-filing for eligible taxpayers. Visit the Department of Revenue website to take advantage of the software and free offers and get more information about free tax preparation services.

For more information, go to the Oregon surplus “kicker” credit page of the Department of Revenue website.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2023-10-09 11:23:57

Last Update: 2023-10-09 14:07:08