How to Use the Minnesota Political Refund System to Make a Free Contribution to the Candidate of Your Choice

Minnesota encourages small contributions to finance political campaigns for state office by refunding individuals who contribute not more than $50 per person, $100 per couple filing jointly.   To use the political refund system just make a contribution to the candidate (or political party) of your choice and ask them for a receipt and a refund form.  Then send the receipt and form to the Minnesota Department of Revenue and you will be reimbursed by the state for your contribution.  See the information below from the Campaign Finance and Disclosure Board for more details.  Also on the IFO web page you will find links to the addresses of legislative candidates from campus areas.

Political Contribution Refund
Individuals who contribute to a registered political party or to a state level partisan candidate who has agreed to limit expenditures are eligible to apply for a refund of their contribution. For purposes of the political contribution refund (PCR) program, only monetary contributions qualify for the refund. Receipts forms may not be issued to contributors who donate goods or services.

The maximum refund contributors may receive is $50 per person or $100 for married couples. The program is available to individuals who are eligible to vote in Minnesota. Those individuals may file only one refund application per year and there is no opportunity to amend the PCR.

To receive a refund, a contributor must:
1. Get a receipt (EP-3) from the political party or candidate to whom the contribution was made.
2. Fill out Form PCR, which can be downloaded at this link or obtained from the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
3. Attach the receipt (EP 3) to the application (Form PCR) for the appropriate year.
4. Mail the application form and receipt to the Minnesota Department of Revenue at:

Minnesota Political Contribution Refund
Minnesota Department of Revenue
St. Paul, MN 55146-1800

The refund program is not tied to the state income tax form. PCR forms must be filed separately. A taxpayer may file a claim for the PCR immediately after making the contribution. Claims for contributions made during one calendar year may be filed during that calendar year and must be filed not later than April 15th of the next calendar year.

Call Jeanne Olson at 651-296-1721 or 800-657-3889 if you have questions about the PCR programs. You may also contact the Department of Revenue by sending an email to: indinctax@state.mn.us.