Last Chance: $50. Donate it or lose it.
Kari Chisholm
One final reminder, folks.
You've got just a couple days left until the end of 2005 - and that means time is almost out to spend your free $50 gift.
"Really? A free $50?"
That's right. Through Oregon's tax system, you have in your hands $50. But you can't spend it. And you can't keep it.
You can either pay it right back in taxes - or give it away to a political campaign, committee, or party of your choice. In short, you make the $50 donation now, and then your tax refund goes up by $50 (or your duty to pay goes down) as soon as you file your state taxes.
"But I don't itemize my deductions and credits."
Doesn't matter. Even if you use the one-page short form (Form 40S), you can take the credit. On last year's form, it was line 17:
So, head on over to OregonTaxCredit.com to learn more - and link directly to Oregon progressive folks that take contributions online.
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connect with blueoregon
Dec 29, '05
Very good to know. Now I just wonder if they actually track people's donations, or if you could merely claim you did and pay $50 less in taxes...Anybody know?
2:17 p.m.
Dec 29, '05
If you get audited, you'd better have a receipt. Also, don't forget that all those contributions are part of the C&E filings (a public record) made by the candidates and organizations.
4:16 p.m.
Dec 29, '05
I believe the C&E limits for identifying donors have been raised to $100. So PACs could file "various donations less than $100" and not list the people.
That said, Bike.Walk.Vote. will gladly take your money and give you a receipt.
Dec 29, '05
Make a gift today at www.oregonhousedemocrats.com
And while you're there, sign up for the Oregon Challenge in the upper left hand corner.
Dec 30, '05
Wow, great tip. Got my donation right over to Jason Atkinson!
Thanks!
4:27 a.m.
Dec 31, '05
FairElections Oregon is supporting Oregon campaign finance reform ballot measures. A secure web contribution form is at: http://www.fairelections.net/contribute.htm
Jan 1, '06
Argh, Kari! I have been out of town and not monitoring this and now I missed my chance again.
My question is this: why don't political organizations get more aggressive about this? I am a registered Democrat and vote in every single election. It's not that I want to be swamped with campaign contribution requests, but hey, a free $50? I'd do that in a heartbeat.
I need the "Support Portland Public Schools" campaign ...
7:33 p.m.
Jan 1, '06
Paul--
I don't know about you, but in the past month or so I've been hit by snail mail donation requests pointing out that time was just about up for donations. I've also received about 20 or so e-mails about the same info.
But if you're not on their lists, you're not going to get anything. Groups can't afford to send a mailer out to every registered Dem (they're saving that for the election cycle), which means mail/e-mail only goes out to those on their lists.
This is why I sign up to be on the mailing lists for so many organizations.