Policy for the People

For some Oregonians, the complexity and cost involved in tax filing is a barrier to doing their taxes. Oregonians who would be due a tax refund, who would get money back by filing a tax return, don't receive those dollars because they're unable to navigate the complicated process of preparing and filing a tax return.

In this episode of Policy for the People, we discuss two initiatives that are making tax filing easy and free. The first is Direct File. This online tool created by the IRS is now available to eligible Oregonians, explains Tyler Mac Innis of the Oregon Center for Public Policy.

The second thing is Oregon's Tax Infrastructure Grant program, a network of organizations that rely on trained volunteers to help low- and moderate-income Oregonians prepare and file their taxes. Riley Eldredge of MFS CASH Oregon, one of the organizations that are part of this network, discusses how free tax assistance can make a big difference in the lives of Oregonians, and why Oregon's Tax Infrastructure Grant program has a huge return on investment.