Oregon Recruits Volunteers for Free Tax Filing Help
The recruitment drive aims to help more families claim credits by increasing available tax preparation sites across the state.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Taxes
Live Poll
Do you plan to volunteer for a community tax assistance program in your area?
The Oregon Department of Revenue and the IRS are recruiting volunteers to assist low- and moderate-income families with tax preparation services. This recruitment drive aims to expand access to free filing support across the state, ensuring more households can claim available tax credits.
Why it matters
A shortage of volunteers currently results in taxpayers being turned away from free filing sites each year. Increasing the volunteer pool is essential for helping low-income families claim credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Oregon Earned Income Credit, and the Oregon Kids Credit, which directly bolster household financial security.
Volunteers prepared 39,135 federal tax returns across 107 sites in Oregon during 2026. Despite this volume, current volunteer shortages often result in tax sites being forced to turn away taxpayers seeking assistance.
The players
Oregon Department of Revenue
The state agency responsible for overseeing tax administration and coordinating local volunteer tax preparation outreach.
IRS
The federal agency that provides the training curriculum and oversight for volunteer income tax assistance programs.
The details
Volunteers receive specialized training from the IRS to provide free, accurate tax preparation services. By assisting taxpayers in navigating the filing process, these volunteers help ensure eligible households receive critical federal and state credits, such as the Oregon Kids Credit. Interested individuals can facilitate this service by signing up through the official IRS volunteer platform to support their local community.
Timeline
Volunteers prepared 39,135 federal tax returns in 2026.
The recruitment drive was announced on October 22, 2026.
Money Landscape
This effort is part of the established Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs designed to provide equitable access to tax filing. It follows a consistent trend of leveraging community volunteers to address the systemic gaps in tax service availability for low-income populations.
Eligible households in Oregon should keep an eye on local outreach for free tax assistance sites to maximize their access to federal and state credits. Families looking for guidance should consult with a qualified tax professional to confirm eligibility for credits like the Oregon Kids Credit.
The takeaway
Expanding the volunteer pool is the primary mechanism for reducing the number of families turned away from free filing support. Households should prepare to organize their financial documents early for the upcoming filing season, which often requires a check of income eligibility for state-specific credits.
Further reading
For more information on tax programs and filing requirements in your area, visit our Taxes section.
More information
To register as a volunteer or learn more about the program, visit the VITA/TCE Volunteer and Partner Sign Up.
Live Poll
Do you plan to volunteer for a community tax assistance program in your area?
