Now that the excitement of the gift-giving season has come to a close, many Oregoniansβ thoughts will turn to the anticipation of something even biggerβclaiming their share of the stateβs all-time record $5.6 billion kicker tax credit.
The good news is anyone who filed a 2022 Oregon income tax return is all set to claim their kicker on their 2023 return next year. The not so good news? Filing taxes often creates anxiety, worry, and stress.
For those who dread tax season every year, the Oregon Department of Revenue says thereβs no reason to let tax season make you sweat. Taking a few easy steps in the next few weeks can make preparing your 2023 tax return easier in 2024βand lower your heart rate in the process.
βMost people donβt want to think about their taxes until itβs time to fill out their returns,β said Revenueβs Megan Denison. βBut doing a few simple things in the weeks before tax season can make filling out your return and filing on time less stressful.β
The first thing taxpayers should do if they hope to claim their share of the kicker next year is to make sure they have filed a 2022 return. The department received more than 2.2 million 2022 tax returns so most taxpayers have done that, but for those who havenβt, filing a 2022 tax return should be their first priority.
Electronic filing is closed until late January so taxpayers who still need to file a 2022 return will need to eitherΒ download and use a paper formΒ or wait until electronic filing is open again.
βUntil taxpayers file their 2022 return, the department canβt calculate their kicker. So make sure you file your 2022 return before you file your 2023 return claiming your kicker,β Denison said.
Next, she said, following the suggestions below will make filing a tax year 2023 return in 2024 simpler and less stressful.
View your account information online
Taxpayers can make sure their information is current atΒ Revenue Online,Β the stateβs online tax portal. While there, taxpayers can use the βWhatβs My Kickerβ calculator, view their 1099-G (available by January 31, 2024), and verify any estimated tax payments theyβve made.
Gather and organize your tax records
Organized tax records make preparing a complete and accurate tax return easier and help avoid errors. Wait to file until you have all your tax records including:
β’ Forms W-2 from your employer(s)
β’ Forms 1099 from banks, issuing agencies and other payers including unemployment compensation, dividends, distributions from a pension, annuity, retirement plan, or other non-employee compensation
β’ Forms 1099-K, 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC, or other income statement if you worked in the gig economy
Use a bank account to speed tax refunds with direct deposit
File electronically, choose direct deposit and you will get a refund faster. Information is available at thisΒ IRS website.
Choose a reputable tax return preparer
Taxpayers should choose a tax return preparer wisely. This is important because taxpayers are responsible for all the information on their return, no matter who prepares it for them. The Oregon Board of Tax Practitioners offers aΒ Licensee Lookup website.Β The IRS has a website withΒ information.
Denison also pointed out thatΒ free help filing a returnΒ is available for those who need it.
To get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments, visitΒ www.oregon.gov/dorΒ or emailΒ questions.dor@oregon.gov. You also can 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.