Astoria, OR – Oregonians looking for help with electronically filing their taxes this season can take advantage of a free service offered by the Oregon Department of Revenue. Volunteers will be visiting libraries across the state in February, March, and April to assist taxpayers in using the free IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon systems, which allow both federal and state tax returns to be filed at no cost.
This year, the program will be available in 17 different communities, providing a valuable resource for those who may need help navigating the process. Specific dates, times, and locations for the tax filing assistance sessions can be found on the Free Direct File Assistance webpage, hosted by the Oregon Department of Revenue.
The free filing assistance comes as part of the expanded availability of the IRS Direct File system, which was made permanent by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in May. The IRS invited all 50 states to join the program, and Oregon was one of the first states to accept the invitation, launching a seamless system for free e-filing of both federal and state returns.
In 2025, it is estimated that 640,000 Oregonians will be able to file both their federal and state tax returns electronically for free. Last year, the limited IRS Direct File pilot program allowed over 140,000 taxpayers in 12 states to file their federal taxes using the system, with nearly 7,000 Oregonians also using Direct File Oregon to submit their state returns.
The Oregon Department of Revenue is optimistic that offering free assistance at local libraries will help increase participation in the program, particularly among low-income families who may not be aware of available tax credits. For example, it’s estimated that one in five eligible Oregon taxpayers are not claiming the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), with unclaimed credits totaling nearly $100 million in recent years.
To take advantage of the free tax filing service, taxpayers must first verify their eligibility using the IRS eligibility checker. They should also create accounts with the IRS online and Oregon’s Revenue Online system prior to attending an event. In addition, taxpayers are advised to bring relevant documentation, including their W-2 forms and other necessary tax information, to the assistance sessions.
This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure that eligible taxpayers can easily file their returns and claim the credits they are entitled to, making tax filing more accessible for all Oregonians.
