Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Almost everyone can use free tax preparation with two qualifications. Our volunteers are trained and certified to prepare most individual tax returns and limited self-employment returns. If we are trained to prepare it, we will. A few locations have an income restriction of $49,000 (see notes in our site list for VITA locations). To learn more about the types of returns we can prepare, see "What returns can you prepare?" by clicking here.

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All over Oregon. Click here to find a site near you.

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Absolutely nothing! We provide FREE preparation and FREE filing for both federal and state returns. All of the tax preparation sites offered by CASH Oregon, AARP Tax-Aide, and VITA are FREE.

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Photo identification and a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) letter/card, for every person who will be claimed on your return (i.e. children, parents, or other dependents).
Documentation of all of your income, including forms W-2 or 1099-MISC.
1099-INT from your bank, 1099-G from unemployment compensation, 1099-R from your retirement account, 1099-SSA from Social Security, etc.
Other forms and receipts that apply such as student loan interest, tuition payments, mortgage interest, property taxes, medical bills, charitable donations, etc.
A copy of your tax return from last year is helpful if you have it.
For child care or care for another dependent that allows you to work, bring the amount of money you spend on care for each dependent, the care provider's address, phone number, and Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security/ITIN Number.
Bank routing and account numbers for direct deposit of any refund. Bring a check for us to see!

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Because we e-file at all of our sites, your refund can be in your hands in just 10 days to 2 weeks! Trust us, that's fast. For those that file a return on paper, the refund check takes at least a month.

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Yes! All of our volunteers must pass a yearly exam and are certified by the IRS. Returns are prepared electronically with error checking software and quality reviewed by a second preparer. An accurate return is our top priority.

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Yes! We have tax preparers and interpreters that speak Spanish, Cantonese, Madarin, Russian and Vietnamese, just to name a few. Check out our site listings to see which sites offer multi-lingual tax help.

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We can help you with:

Earned wages from a job.
Earned Income Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit
Education Credit
Credit for care of a child or dependent so you can work
Residential Energy Credit
Oregon Elderly Rental Assistance (Click here for more information.)
A new or amended return from a year before 2010. (Click here for more information.)
Cancelled debt from a credit card or foreclosure. (Click here for more information.)
Interest from a bank, mutual funds or dividends from stock.
Income from a pension, 401(K) or IRA, including an early withdrawal from a retirement account.
Some small businesses. (Click here for more information.)

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We can help you with cash (or check!) donations you made to qualifying charitable institutions, if you have a receipt or cancelled check. We can also help you with non-cash donations (such as furniture, clothes, electronics, etc.) as long as their total value is $5,000 or less.

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We can help you with simple stock transactions as long as you have all the proper documentation of when you bought it, how many shares, and how much you sold it for.

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We can only do Oregon tax returns. Washington does not have a state return. However, we can prepare your federal return if you live in Washington.

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If you owned your home, we can help you deduct your mortgage interest and property taxes. We cannot prepare taxes for rental income.

If your home was foreclosed and you received a 1099-C Cancellation of Debt, ask for details.

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We can help you if you have the following:

Less than $10,000 in expenses
A profit, not a loss for the year
No inventory at any time during the year
No employees, depreciation, or amortization
You operated only one business/sole proprietorship during the year. If married, each spouse can operate one.
You do not deduct expenses for business use of home.
You do not own rental properties.

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Many sites are able to prepare prior year returns - call ahead. In act, for years that you were entitled to a refund but didn't claim it, we can go back three years to get you the money you deserve. We can also amend returns.

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We can help you if you have Social Security Number and a Green Card or if you have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Ask for details.

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is an identification number that you use when filing your federal and state income taxes if you do not qualify for a Social Security Number. To be included on the tax return, spouses and dependents living here, or in Mexico or Canada, must also have an ITIN if they do not have a Social Security Number.

You can apply for an Individual taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) at three CASH Oregon or AARP Tax-Aide sites.

El Programa Hispano (Spanish) - Multnomah County
Lloyd Center (Spanish) - Multnomah County
Centro Cultural (Spanish) - Washington County

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Yes. Elderly Rental Assistance (ERA) is for low income people age 58 or older who rent their home.

To apply, bring the following information on the amount you paid in the prior year for:

Lights, water, garbage, sewer, and heating.
Rent
Value of your assets, such as deposits, investments, stocks, and property.

To receive your ERA check in November 2012, you must file before July 1, 2012. For more information on the Oregon Elderly Rental Assistance Program, click here.

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If you have problems with the IRS, you think the IRS is in error, or you are having trouble settling your debt, contact a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITC). There are three clinics in Oregon.

Organization	Phone	Languages
Catholic Charities www.catholiccharitiesoregon.org	503-489-6828 888-489-6845	English/Spanish
Legal Aid Services of Oregon www.lasoregon.org	503-224-4086 888-610-8764	English/Spanish/Russian, Chinese/Others
Lewis & Clark College Legal Clinic www.lclark.edu/law/programs	503-768-6500	Many languages through interpretive services.

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