Free Filing Assistance Available for Oregonians

You may think you don’t need to file a tax return, but you could be missing out on a significant refund. If you need help filing, free assistance is available through the Oregon Department of Human Services Tax Infrastructure Program, which funds community organizations across the state to provide tax filing support for those who qualify. Many working Oregonians are not required to file a tax return or haven’t filed in years, but filing can bring several financial benefits. You could receive a substantial refund if your employer withheld too much money from your paycheck, especially if you worked part-time or only part of the year. There are also numerous tax credits available, including the state and federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for low-income workers, the Oregon Kids Credit for families with children, the Working Family Credit for childcare costs, the Retirement Savings Credit for those saving for retirement, and the American Opportunity Credit for college students.

Many young people under 18 mistakenly believe their parents’ tax return includes their earnings, but they may still be eligible for refunds on excess withholdings while being claimed as dependents. If you haven’t filed in years, including during the pandemic, free in-person tax filing assistance is available to help with prior year returns. Additionally, you may be required to file a state tax return in Oregon, where income thresholds for filing are lower than federal requirements. For example, a single person with no dependents in Oregon must file if they earn at least $7,710. Even if you missed the April 15 deadline, there is no penalty for late filing if you are owed a refund, and free tax help is available through mid-October.

The Tax Infrastructure Grant Program supports culturally relevant and rural community organizations, Tribal governments, and other groups in providing free tax education and filing assistance for low-income individuals. Help is available in multiple languages, and funding also goes toward increasing the number of certified tax preparers in Oregon. For free tax filing assistance, you can contact 211Info by calling 2-1-1 or emailing help@211info.org.

Additional resources are available at Oregon State University, Western Oregon University, CASH Oregon, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO), Centro de Servicios Para Campesinos, and the Latino Community Association.