Take the stress and expense out of filing taxes.
Looking for free help with your tax preparation? You’re in luck. These tax support programs will help you prepare your documents and file your taxes.
Taxes can be tricky, but filing them should not come at a high cost to you. Keep in mind that all of the commercial tax filing companies, from H&R Block to TurboTax, have free file options. The only downside is that these companies use a multitude of tactics to get you pay upwards of $60 just to file your taxes.
This year, before you start your taxes with one of these big box tax filing companies, read through these tax support, preparation and filing services to see if you qualify for a better option.
Below are free tax preparation services, both in-person and online, and more information to help you file your taxes for free or cheaper than last year.
Free Tax Help
AARP
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide provides in-person and remote tax assistance free of charge to anyone, with a special focus on taxpayers who are 50 or older or who have low to moderate income. Federal and state tax assistance is available at all locations.
There are multiple locations throughout the Portland metro. Find a location near you by searching on their site. You can also submit a request for help online.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
The VITA program offers free tax help to people who generally make $54,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
Assistance is provided at community centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other locations. Enter your zip code to find out if there is a site near you and to make an appointment.
CASH Oregon
This Oregon business provides low income families and individuals from every community and background in Oregon with tax assistance. Their volunteers are trained and certified to prepare most individual tax returns and limited self-employment returns.
To qualify, your household income must be below $57,500, along with other income restrictions.
This year, CASH is exclusively offering virtual appointments. See the full list of free resources.
MyFreeTaxes
This program from United Way allows you to file your taxes on your own or get assistance online. MyFreeTaxes partners with the IRS to help you easily and accurately file your federal and state taxes.
If you earned less than $73,000 in 2021, you can file online for free. To file with assistance, your income limitation is $58,000 or less. See if you qualify.
Free Online Tax Preparation Programs
If you meet the income criteria for the free resources above, chances are you can also find online tax preparation to e-file for free. The Oregon Department of Revenue generated a full list of approved vendors that offer online filing. The best part is these programs will give you added guidance throughout the filing process to make sure you’re on track.
Read about all the free online tax preparation programs to see if you are eligible. These options allow you to file both your federal and state income taxes.
File Your Taxes for Free and Cheap
If you do not meet the income criteria for the preparation and free filing tax programs above, you can still file your federal taxes for free Yet, keep in mind you must be comfortable completing tax forms yourself when choosing this option.
A great option is FreeTaxUSA. This free online tax preparation software allows you to submit your taxes directly to the IRS. You’ll file your federal taxes for free and pay a small fee of $14.99 for state taxes.
If you meet the income requirements for these tax preparation software products, you may be able to file your Oregon taxes for free. For Federal taxes, you can also use these free fillable forms on the IRS website.
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