Brand name tax software products made available by IRS, State Free File Programs empower eligible Oregon residents to file their taxes online at no cost.
Congressman Greg Walden (OR-2) urged all eligible Oregon residents to use the IRS and Oregon Free File programs to save money and time during this tax season. In general, people earning $62,000 or less – 70 percent of all taxpayers – are eligible to use name-brand tax preparation software products to prepare and securely file their tax return online at no cost.
Congressman Walden attended a briefing at the Bend Senior Center recently to discuss Free File’s ease of use and how the program can ensure taxpayers receive the largest refund possible this tax season. The briefing also highlighted free tax services in Central Oregon provided by AARP-Tax-Aide.
The Free File program is a partnership between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and tax preparation software companies that provides millions of people access to brand name software so they can prepare and securely file their taxes at no cost. The software uses a simple interview-style process to help people identify all the credits and deductions for which they are eligible. Each year, tens of thousands of taxpayers receive a smaller refund because they fail to claim all of their eligible credits and deductions. For instance, estimates indicate up to 25 percent of people eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) fail to claim it and miss out on a refundable federal tax credit of up to $6,200 (certain states also have a similar EITC).
Oregon is one of 20 states plus the District of Columbia that have formed state Free File programs, enabling eligible taxpayers to file both their federal and state tax return online for free. Since its debut in 2003, over 40 million taxpayers have saved more than $1.3 billion in tax preparation costs through the IRS Free File program.
“I’ve long supported a continuation of the Free File program because it is a good example of government partnering with the private sector to provide an efficient solution for taxpayers,” said Rep. Walden. “The free tax services offered by Free File help simplify our complicated tax code and take the stress out of tax season for many people across central Oregon.”
“We are so thankful to Congressman Walden for helping to spread the word to community leaders and Oregon residents about how the Free File Program can mean a larger tax refund and more money saved this tax season,” said David Macklin of the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), the organization sponsoring today’s event.
CCIA also encouraged those who have used Free File to submit their stories through its website: www.taxprephelp.org. The website contains helpful information on Free File, including how Free File has helped tens of millions of people save more money during tax season for over a decade. To access Free File, visit www.irs.gov/freefile, or www.oregon.gov/dor and search for “Free File”.
About CCIA: The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) is an international nonprofit membership organization dedicated to innovation and enhancing society’s access to information and communications. CCIA promotes open markets, open systems, open networks and full, fair and open competition in the computer, telecommunications and Internet industries.
