Volunteers from the Oregon Department of Revenue will be at the Salem Public Library, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, February 20 to assist taxpayers filing their own returns in using the free combination of IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon. The library is located at 585 Liberty Street SE in Salem.

Taxpayers can find more information on the department’s Free Direct File assistance at local libraries webpage.

Before coming to the library, taxpayers should use the IRS eligibility checker to see if they’ll be able to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon. IRS Direct File does not support all return types. Specifically, taxpayers with dividends reported on Form 1099-DIV and capital gains or losses are not supported. Income from pensions, reported on Form 1099-R, won't be supported until later in March.

The IRS estimates that 44,000 people in Salem and Keizer are eligible to use IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon in addition to 18,000 others in Marion County.

To use IRS Direct File taxpayers must have an IRS online account. Taxpayers who don’t already have IRS online account should sign up with ID.me and create an account before arriving at their library to expedite the filing process.

Taxpayers who want to import their federal return information into Direct File Oregon must have a Revenue Online account to file their state income tax return. Taxpayers who don’t already have a Revenue Online account can create one by following the Revenue Online link on the department’s website. Taxpayers who can't use IRS Direct File or don't want to import their federal return information can use Direct File Oregon to file their state income tax return without a Revenue Online account. However, the process is simpler and faster for those logged into their Revenue Online account.

The department believes that helping taxpayers file their own returns using direct file will help maximize the number of Oregonians who choose to use the new free option and make it possible for many who don’t have a filing requirement to file and claim significant federal and state tax credits for low-income families. The IRS estimates that nearly 25 percent eligible Oregon taxpayers are not claiming the EITC. One Oregon organization says that added up to almost $100 million in unclaimed credits in 2020.

Taxpayers should bring the following information with them to the library.

Identification documents

• Social security card or ITIN for everyone on your tax return
• Government picture ID for taxpayer and spouse if filing jointly (such as driver’s license or passport)

Common income and tax documents

• Forms W2 (wages from a job)
• Forms 1099 (other kinds of income)
• Form SSA-1099 (Social Security Benefits)

Optional documents

• Canceled check or bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit
• Last year’s tax return

Taxpayers can sign up for the new “Oregon Tax Tips” direct email newsletter to keep up with information about tax return filing and how to claim helpful tax credits.