Oregon offers free electronic filing options for state income taxes

(MARCH 10, 2023) The Oregon Department of Revenue made an announcement recently. It said all Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own returns in 2023 can file electronically at no cost using one of Oregon's free file options. The department began processing 2022 state income tax returns on January 23. That is also the same day that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began processing federal returns. Taxpayers have several free file options available on the department's website, including free guided tax preparation from several companies for those who meet income requirements.

For those who don't meet the income requirements for guided preparation, Oregon Free Fillable Forms are available for free filing. These forms perform basic calculations. They are ideal for people who don't need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. The agency's electronic filing page has a detailed series of steps for using the free fillable forms. Taxpayers can rest assured that both their federal and state returns will be filed for free by using links from the department's website.

E-filing is the fastest way for taxpayers to get their refund. On average, people who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund 34 days sooner than those who mail their paper return and request paper refund checks. Refunds will be issued starting February 15. 

Taxpayers can also take advantage of several other free options available to them, including the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. Low-to-moderate-income taxpayers can also access preparation services through AARP and CASH Oregon, and United Way offers free tax help through their MyFreeTaxes program. Additional information on these options is available on the department's website.