SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The Oregon House has voted to replace “kicker” refund checks with a tax credit.
The one-of-a-kind tax refund that has come to be known as the “kicker” started in 1980 when Oregon voters approved a law requiring any surplus state revenue be returned to taxpayers when revenue exceeds projections by 2 percent or more.
But that refund was made as a tax credit until 1995, when the law was changed to require the state to mail out a check to taxpayers when it was time for a kicker refund.
The Oregonian reports that by returning to the tax credit system, the state can save about $1 million — the cost of sending all those checks.
The House sent the bill to the Senate after approving it 38 to 21 Tuesday.
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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com