All Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own returns in 2024 can file electronically at no cost using one of Oregon’s free file options, the Oregon Department of Revenue announced yesterday.
E-filing is the fastest way for a taxpayer to get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund two weeks sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks.
Free fillable forms and Direct File Oregon
Oregon Free Fillable Forms performs basic calculations and is ideal for taxpayers who don’t need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. The IRS offers a similar option for filing federal taxes electronically.
New this year, the department is also offering Direct File Oregon, which allows taxpayers to file their Form OR-40 through Revenue Online. Direct File Oregon is not currently linked with the IRS Direct File. Taxpayers will need to file a separate federal return with the IRS before filing an Oregon return with Direct File Oregon through Revenue Online.
Free electronic filing options
Free guided tax preparation is available from several companies for taxpayers that meet income requirements. Using links from the department’s website ensures that both taxpayers’ federal and state return will be filed for free.
Free help filing Oregon tax returns
The department also announced the availability of free assistance in filing a return through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCA) and other community organizations.
The IRS’s VITA and TCE programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. Low- to moderate-income taxpayers can also access preparation services through AARP and CASH Oregon. United Way also offers free tax help through their MyFreeTaxes program. More information on these options is available on the department website.
Oregon begins processing e-filed returns today. E-filed returns will be processed in the order they are received. However, as in years past, the department won’t be issuing personal income tax refunds until after February 15. A refund hold is part of the department’s tax fraud prevention efforts and allows for confirmation that the amounts claimed on tax returns match what employers report on Forms W-2 and 1099.
To further encourage electronic filing, the department is no longer mailing Forms 1099-G to taxpayers. Form 1099-G reports the amount of refunds, credits, or other offsets of personal income, statewide transit individual, TriMet transit self-employment, or Lane transit self-employment tax during the previous year. Only those who itemized deductions on their tax year 2022 federal income tax return will need a Form 1099-G to file their tax year 2023 return. Those taxpayers can view and download their Form 1099-G through Revenue Online. Taxpayers who received unemployment insurance or Paid Leave Oregon benefits in 2023, will receive a separate 1099-G by January 31 from the Oregon Employment Department.
To check the status of your refund after February 15, or make payments, visit the department’s website. You can also call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), we accept all relay calls.
