SALEM, Ore. — Tax season is underway, and there's a possibility you could be getting back a bigger buck than you were expecting because of Oregon's kicker.
In October, the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis (OEA) confirmed a more than $5.61 billion revenue surplus in the 2021-2023 biennium, triggering a tax surplus credit, or “kicker,” for the 2023 tax year.
This is the largest surplus in Oregon state history and will be returned to taxpayers through a credit on their 2023 personal tax returns filed in 2024.
But the million-dollar question that Oregon taxpayers are asking is, "How do I determine my kicker refund?"
ON YOUR SIDE | Historic $5.61 billion surplus triggers largest tax 'kicker' in Oregon history: Here's how to claim it
Personal income taxpayers can also determine the amount of their kicker using a What’s My Kicker? Calculator available on Revenue Online.
To use the calculator, taxpayers will need to enter their name, Social Security Number, and filing status for 2022 and 2023.
The Oregon Department of Revenue says e-filing is the fastest way for a taxpayer to get their refund.
On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund two weeks sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks.
Also, as a push to promote e-filing taxes, the department is no longer mailing Forms 1099-G to taxpayers. Form 1099-G reports the amount of refunds, credits, or other offsets of personal income, statewide transit individual, TriMet transit self-employment, or Lane transit self-employment tax during the previous year.
Officials say only those who itemized deductions on their tax year 2022 federal income tax return will need a Form 1099-G to file their tax year 2023 return.
Oregon has many free resources to file your taxes electronically:
Free fillable forms and Direct File Oregon
Oregon Free Fillable Forms performs basic calculations and is ideal for taxpayers who don’t need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. The IRS offers a similar option for filing federal taxes electronically.
The department is also offering Direct File Oregon, which allows taxpayers to file their Form OR-40 through Revenue Online. Direct File Oregon is not currently linked with the IRS Direct File. Taxpayers will need to file a separate federal return with the IRS before filing an Oregon return with Direct File Oregon through Revenue Online.
Free help filing Oregon tax returns
The department also announced the availability of free assistance in filing a return through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCA) and other community organizations.
The IRS’s VITA and TCE programs offer free basic tax return preparation to qualified individuals. Low- to moderate-income taxpayers can also access preparation services through AARP and CASH Oregon, according to the Department of Revenue.
United Way also offers free tax help through their MyFreeTaxes program.
To check the status of your refund after February 15, or make payments, visit the department’s website. You can also call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), we accept all relay calls.
