Food Pantry Tax Credit (FPT)

Purpose

Provides a tax credit for taxpayers who make donations of cash or food supplies to a qualified local food pantry, homeless shelter, or soup kitchen.

A local food pantry is defined as an organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and distributes emergency food supplies to low-income people in the area the taxpayer claiming the tax credit resides.
A local homeless shelter is defined as an organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and provides temporary living arrangements for individuals and families who otherwise lack fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and lack resources to support networks to obtain other permanent housing, in the area in the taxpayer claiming the tax credit resides.
A local soup kitchen is defined as an organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and provides prepared meals through an established congregate feeding operation to needy, low-income persons including, but not limited to, homeless persons in the area in which the taxpayer claiming the tax credit under this section resides.
Any taxpayer (individual, corporation, or trust) that makes a donation of cash or food supplies to a local food pantry, homeless shelter, or soup kitchen may receive a credit of up to $2,500 per taxpayer, per year. The taxpayer may take a credit of 50 percent of their donations.

To claim the Food Pantry Tax Credit, the claimant must attach the following to their Missouri tax return:

A completed Miscellaneous Income Tax Credits Form (MO-TC); and
A completed Food Pantry Tax Credit Form (MO-FPT) or documentation from the food pantry which specifies the name of the food pantry, the dates and amounts of donations, and the name of the person making the donations. A separate MO-FPT or letter documenting the donations must be submitted for each food pantry to which donations were made.

The amount of the credit claimed may not exceed the amount of the claimant’s tax liability. If the credit exceeds the claimant’s tax liability, the excess amount may be carried forward three subsequent years.
If the claimant reports donations used to calculate the Food Pantry Tax Credit as a charitable contribution on their federal Schedule A, the donation amount must be reported as a modification (addition) on Missouri Individual Income Tax Adjustments Form MO-A.
Anyone employing persons not authorized to work in the United States under federal law is not eligible for the credit.

This Food Pantry Tax Credit may be applied to individual income tax, corporation income tax, and fiduciary tax, or any other tax incurred under the provisions of Chapter 143, RSMo, excluding state withholding tax.
The Food Pantry Tax Credit is nonrefundable, and cannot be transferred, sold, or assigned.

Returns claiming the Food Pantry Tax Credit must be filed July 1 through April 15 of each fiscal year.
The total amount available for the Food Pantry Tax Credit is $1,750,000 in any one fiscal year.
All claims will be held until after all returns received on April 15 have been processed to determine if the total amount claimed exceeds $1,750,000. If claims exceed $1,750,000, the Department will apportion credits in an equal ratio among all valid returns filed.
Missouri Revised Statute 135.647 does not provide provisions to waive interest and penalties due to the apportionment of the Food Pantry Tax Credit.

If your return would result in a balance due without considering the application of the food pantry tax credit, the Department recommends paying the amount of tax covered by the food pantry tax credit by the return due date to avoid the accrual of interest and penalties on the unpaid tax. Once the food pantry tax credit is apportioned for the fiscal year, any amount of payment not due to the Department will be refunded to the taxpayer.
If your return would result in a refund without consideration of the application of the food pantry tax credit, the Department will issue a partial refund for the amount overpaid in excess of the food pantry tax credit. Once the food pantry tax credit is apportioned and allowed, any additional payments or credits that are overpaid will be refunded to you in a separate check at a later date.

If the Food Pantry Tax Credit is reduced because of apportionment, an amended return may be filed on or after July 1 to be considered for the following fiscal year beginning July 1, or the credit may be carried forward to the next year's tax return. Amended returns may be filed until the credit is exhausted or the returns go out of statute. Generally, a return goes out of statute three years from the due date of that year’s return.