Last chance for Oregon taxpayers to claim expired refund checks

Thousands of taxpayers across Oregon have tax refund money awaiting them, and they have less than a week before it’s harder to claim it. After state checks expire, two years from their issuance date, there’s a limited window of time to get them reissued before additional requirements apply. That window closes on Friday, October 13.

Each October, the Oregon Department of Revenue has to send any expired check amounts to the Unclaimed Property Program at the Department of State Lands. To claim property from DSL, taxpayers need a notarized claim and copies of identity-verifying documents.

Revenue sent letters to nearly 9,000 taxpayers in July, warning them that their checks are expired and they need to request a new check before the amount is transferred to DSL. Some have already asked for a reissued check, claiming their portion of almost $2 million in expired refunds that Revenue identified in July. If you got a notification letter from Revenue, McCarty-Snook said you should either sign the notification letter and return it before October 13 or call (503) 947-0084 to request a reissued check.

“We still have more than 7,000 taxpayers with almost $1.7 million in expired checks,” said Vickie McCarty-Snook, Oregon Department of Revenue accounting manager. “We want these taxpayers to get their money before they have to take additional steps.”

McCarty-Snook said the most common reasons for not cashing a refund check are misplacement of the check and having an incorrect mailing address on file with Revenue. She said taxpayers should notify Revenue of any address changes to ensure receipt of all tax-related correspondence.

You can visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get forms, check the status of your refund, or make payments. You can call (503) 378-4988 or (800) 356-4222 (toll-free) or email questions.dor@oregon.gov for additional assistance. For TTY for hearing or speech impaired, call (800) 886-7204.