This annual tax, which helps pay for close to 100 kindergarten through fifth grade art and music teachers in Portland area schools and other arts programs sponsored by local arts organizations, is due from all adult Portland residents with income of $1,000 or more. This includes anyone who moved into or out of Portland during 2022. Adults with income less than $1,000 during the tax year or who are below the federal poverty level may claim an exemption by filing the Arts Tax return.

Portland residents can file and pay the $35 Arts Tax using the secure portal at Pro.Portland.gov. No account is necessary to file, and receipts are emailed when payment is submitted. Generally, it takes five minutes to complete the filing process.

Earlier this year, the Revenue Division mailed tax returns and reminders to every Portland address and will not be sending paper forms again for the 2022 tax year. An email reminder was recently sent to taxpayers who have previously provided an email address and had not already filed or paid by mid-March.

Since the Arts Tax is an income tax, there is no “bill”. Taxpayers must complete and file the Arts Tax return and pay the tax by April 18, 2023 to avoid a penalty.

While it is fast and easy to pay online, there are other ways to file and pay the Arts Tax:

Taxpayers can file online and choose to pay by mailing in a check with a voucher printed from the website.
Download and print out a tax year 2022 Arts Tax form from the Revenue Division website at Portland.gov/Revenue/forms. The form is also available in ten additional languages on the same page.

How to pay your 2022 Portland arts tax | Portland.gov

Since 2012, the Arts Tax has generated over $112 million to support art and music instruction in Portland area school districts and increase arts access through grants from the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC). An Arts Tax accounting can be found at Arts Tax: Collections, Disbursements, and Costs.

Source: City of Portland

Janine Wolf