On a mission to make tax season less taxing for Klamath Falls residents, volunteers from the Oregon Department of Revenue are setting up shop at the local library to lend a hand—free of charge. The Klamath County Library will play host to this financial aid fest from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12, where eligible taxpayers can get assistance with IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon, according to an announcement from the Department of Revenue.
It turns out that a hefty chunk of Klamath County's population, specifically 11,000 individuals, could benefit from this cost-free service, says the IRS. If the past whispers anything to us, it's that about 25% of eligible Oregon taxpayers aren't seizing their Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), with missing out sums reaching nearly a whopping $100 million back in 2020, as reported by the Department of Revenue. By helping locals file on their own, the department hopes to boost the uptake of this new complimentary option—and crucially, get more low-income families the credits they’re due.
Before heading to the library, taxpayers should make use of the IRS eligibility checker and have an IRS online account and an account with Oregon's Revenue Online ready to go. As per the department's guidance, folks should gather their ID docs, social security cards, or ITINs, alongside a government-issued photo ID. In addition, wage statements from jobs (Forms W2), any other income (Forms 1099), and social security benefit details (Forms SSA-1099) are among the items to bring along. For those looking to get their return via direct deposit, a canceled check or bank details wouldn't hurt to include, and neither would last year's tax return.
