Salem Public Library event offers free help Thursday to file taxes
On Thursday, experts will be available to help visitors at the Salem Public Library file their taxes.
Volunteers from the Oregon Department of Revenue will be at the library at 585 Liberty St. S.E. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20, to guide taxpayers through using IRS Direct File and Direct File Oregon, which are free for eligible taxpayers.
It’s one of 18 statewide events to help taxpayers happening before the April 15 filing deadline. There will be another event at Salem Public Library on Thursday, April 3.
Around 62,000 people in Salem and Marion County qualify for the filing options, according to a press release from the Oregon Department of Revenue. Check eligibility on the IRS website.
Direct file is available to qualifying single individual taxpayers making under $200,000 a year and married people making under $250,000 per year jointly, who get W-2 forms, unemployment or Social Security benefits. It is not available to people who have unreported cash income like tips, or do gig work according to the IRS eligibility page, and income limits vary by marital status.
Before heading to the library, participants should sign up for an IRS account with ID.me online to help make filing quicker. Making a state Revenue Online account will help speed the process, too, though it is not required to file.
Taxpayers should bring Social Security cards or their 9-digit individual taxpayer identification number to the library for everyone on the tax return, along with a government picture ID, like a driver’s license or passport.
Common documents to bring are the W-2, 1099 and SSA-1099 forms. Optional helpful documents are a canceled check or bank routing and account numbers for a direct deposit, and last year’s tax return.
The library’s available computers are expected to fill up quickly, but people can bring their own laptops, tablets or phones to file on, said city spokeswoman Nicole Miller.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
