According to the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, the state has confirmed a significant revenue surplus, to the tune of more than $1.41 billion for the 2023-2025 biennium, leading to a windfall for taxpayers in the form of a tax surplus credit, also known as the "kicker." The kicker credit, as reported on Friday by the Oregon Department of Revenue, will be applied to 2025 state personal income tax returns that are filed in 2026, not as a check, but directly against the taxpayer's state income tax owed or as a boost to their refund.
To get the Oregon “kicker” refund, taxpayers must file returns for both 2024 and 2025. The refund gives back extra state revenue to those who paid taxes in 2024. To find your amount, multiply the tax on line 24 of your 2024 Form OR-40 by 9.863%. If you claimed credits for taxes paid to other states, adjust your calculation, according to the Oregon Department of Revenue.
Taxpayers can use the “What’s My Kicker?” calculator on Revenue Online to find out how much they’ll get back. They’ll need to enter their Social Security number and filing status. The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis says everyone who wants the kicker must file a 2025 tax return, as per the Oregon Department of Revenue.
Repercussions apply for those who grapple with government debts, as noted by the Oregon Department of Revenue, the state reserves the right to divert all or part of an individual's kicker to settle any outstanding state debts they might have snowballed into their fiscal sidebar, and this encompasses anything from unpaid taxes of yesteryears to missed child support payments and the like; to support public education, taxpayers have the choice, though, to donate their entirety of their kicker to the Oregon State School Fund for K-12 education, an altruistic move that's irrevocable once made.
Oregon taxpayers can choose to donate part or all of their refund to one of 29 approved charities using Form OR-DONATE. Details about these options and the kicker credit are on the Oregon Department of Revenue website. There’s still time to file your 2024 Oregon tax return electronically, and free tax prep help is available. The Department will announce when 2025 filing begins in January. Officials note that the fastest way to get your kicker is by filing electronically and choosing direct deposit.
