Tax help available at Dept. of Revenue offices

Tax season is under way, and the Oregon Department of Revenue would like to remind taxpayers that assistance is available at five district offices throughout the state and the agency’s main office in Salem.

Taxpayers can receive help from Revenue employees 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following locations:

Bend — 951 SW Simpson Avenue, Suite 100, 541-388-6139

Eugene –1600 Valley River Drive, Suite 310, 541-686-7935

Medford — 3613 Aviation Way, Suite 102, 541-858-6500

Gresham –1550 NW Eastman Parkway, Suite 220, 503-674-6272

Portland — 800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 505, 971-673-0700

Salem — 955 Center Street NE, 503-378-4988

Employees in Revenue’s district offices provide a wide array of services for Oregonians preparing their 2012 state taxes.

Auditors are available to answer tax return questions and help clarify state tax law.

Revenue agents can set up payment plans and provide information about account balances and past due returns. People who don’t want to mail their income tax return can drop it off at a distri

ct office, and make any income tax payments they might owe the state.

“We just want people to know that we are in their community and ready to help,” said Keith Shribbs, a deputy section manager in Revenue’s Personal Tax and Compliance section. “We still have people who come into district offices that have been open for years and tell us, ‘We didn’t know you were here.'”

District office staff also can direct people to tax assistance not provided by Revenue. For example, employees may not be able to answer all federal tax questions, but they will help taxpayers direct their questions to the Internal Revenue Service.

The agency does not prepare tax returns, but staff can steer them to organizations that provide free tax preparation.

In addition to the district offices you can visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, check the status of your refund or make tax payments, or call 1-800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish); 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon; or e-mail, questions.dor@state.or.us. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), call 1-800-886-7204.

Due to the amount of calls the department receives during tax season, you may experience extended waiting times.