Self-Direct Your State B&O Taxes from Olympia to Downtown Bellingham

The Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program provides a Business & Occupation (B&O) or Public Utility tax (PUT) credit for private contributions given to eligible downtown organizations. Once your business’ donation request is approved by the Department of Revenue, you are eligible for a tax credit worth 75% of the contribution to your downtown revitalization organization. Designated Washington Main Street Communities, including Downtown Bellingham, are eligible to receive contributions through this state tax credit program. Under the WA Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, the program is managed by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.

HOW IT WORKS

As a business, when you pledge to donate to the Downtown Bellingham Partnership through the WA Main Street Tax Credit Program, you will receive 75% of your donation back as a WA State B&O tax credit. Donate $10,000? You'll get a $7,500 credit. And that full $10,000 may be tax deductible, since the DBP is a 501(c)3 nonprofit*. This means you are able to self-direct your tax dollars back into our community - helping us in our mission to support our downtown economy by promoting commerce, culture, and celebration.

* Every businesses is different, so check with your accountant/bookkeeper on how this would impact your own federal tax liability.

It is a competitive program and each community is capped at $160,000 in credits (equal to $213,333.333) or until the State’s $5M cap is reached, which ever comes first each calendar year.

HEAR A CURRENT DONOR’S STORY

Mount Baker Care Center and Summit Place Assisted Living began giving to the Downtown Bellingham Partnership in 2024. Their leadership team was excited to hear about the opportunity to redirect their tax dollars, develop a connection with the Downtown Bellingham Partnership’s team and learn more about the real-life impact of our work, and influence amazing memories for their residents at Downtown Sounds.


MORE INFO

Check out the WA Main Street Program site to learn more HERE.
Learn more about the incredible ROI and impacts of WA Main Streets HERE.
Downtown Bellingham Partnership 2023 Annual Report HERE.

HAVE QUESTIONS? - TALK WITH OUR TEAM

Contact our Development Director, Jenny Hagemann, to learn how to take advantage of this great win-win opportunity - jenny@downtownbellingham.com

PLEDGE, DONATE, & EARN CREDITS IN THREE SIMPLE STEPS

There are three simple steps to enroll in the Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program.

1. Conveniently Pledge Your Main Street Commitment Online!

The Downtown Bellingham Partnership requests donors complete our internal pledge form for two purposes:

    • To be aware of donors needing assistance with their DOR filing

    • To help us budget and determine when we will meet our maximum state allowance of $160,000 in credits, or $213,333.33 in donations annually

2. Claim Your Credits With The Department of Revenue

There are two paths to making your pledge official with the State of Washington’s Department of Revenue.

  • If you elected to have the Downtown Bellingham Partnership apply for the tax credit on your behalf, we must be assigned as administrators to your Department of Revenue account. We will then assign the pledge value signed from your form to your credits and confirm receipt via email.

  • If you, or your accounting partners, do not want to us grant access to your DOR account, there is an easy self-serve portal. Again, the person applying must have administrator privileges or they will not be able to access the tax credit portal. Once the administrator is logged in, the entire process takes less than 5 minutes!

3. Await Appreciation & Receipt

The Downtown Bellingham Partnership will receive confirmation of your credit filing from our partners at the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation (typically within 10 business days). At this point, we fire up the gratitude engines and deliver a tax receipt with our appreciation for your support. We also deliver an invoice to complete your donation. There are three important things to note:

  • Payment of your donation value can be made in full, or via installments of your choosing to assist with cash flow planning. However, full payment must be received on or before November 1 of the same tax filing year.

  • Failure to pay the full pledge value will result in permanent ineligibility to the program in future years.

  • We offer payment via credit card online or via check.

Thank You To Our 2024 Main Street Donors!

The Downtown Bellingham Partnership would like to formally thank our Main Street contributors who have pledged to support our work through the WA Main Street Tax Credit Program in 2024. Funds earned through this program have allowed the Partnership to fund key projects and programs to improve Downtown Bellingham’s urban core since 2015.

Donations from this year’s tax credit program will help us continue to focus our energy into providing vital support, resources, and assistance to businesses within our district.

 

The Downtown Bellingham Association (doing business as the Downtown Bellingham Partnership) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (Federal Tax ID 31-1762690). Ask your tax advisor if you donation is deductible as a charitable contribution for tax purposes. This organization is currently registered with the Washington State Charities Program as required by law (Registration Number 36628). Additional information can be obtained from the Secretary of State’s office at www.sos.wa.gov/charities or 1-800-332-4483.