Oregon Volunteers Help Thousands Claim $14M in Tax Refunds

When Hilario Gonzalez got his first paycheck from cleaning hotel rooms in Portland, he had no idea he was owed $1,700 back from the government. The 33-year-old asylum seeker from Colombia couldn't navigate the complicated tax forms in his new language, so he turned to CASHOregon, a nonprofit that helps people file for free.

"It was really, really good for me," Gonzalez grinned after getting his refund. He plans to use this year's refund to buy a computer for school.

About 15% of Oregonians don't file tax returns each year, often because they're intimidated by the forms or worried about owing money. But many of them are actually leaving significant refunds unclaimed, money that's already theirs.

That's where volunteer programs like CASHOregon step in. Last year, their 360 volunteers helped almost 10,000 families file returns and claim about $14 million in refunds. These families earn an average of $28,000 a year, so refunds mean rent payments, transportation, and food on the table.

Riley Eldredge, director of CASHOregon, says about 22% of eligible Oregonians never claim the earned income tax credit, one of the country's strongest anti-poverty tools. A family of four making $20,000 a year could receive up to $6,000 from that credit alone, not counting other benefits they qualify for.

Pradeep Gurunathan understands the confusion firsthand. When he arrived from India as a student 14 years ago, a kind volunteer helped him navigate his first tax return. Now a research scientist at Intel, he volunteers with CASHOregon to pay that kindness forward.

He remembers helping an autistic woman who needed a quiet space away from office noise. After he finished her return, she handed him a handwritten note thanking him. "Each of us bears the imprint of a friend met along the way," it read. He still carries it in his wallet.

Why This Inspires

The beauty of this story isn't just in the millions recovered. It's in the cycle of generosity it creates. People who once needed help become the helpers. International students become experts guiding newcomers. Accounting students gain real experience while changing lives.

The programs desperately need more volunteers, especially after recent funding cuts slashed CASHOregon's staff by 30%. Training takes about 40 hours, plus a certification exam and background check. But for puzzle lovers and people who want to make a tangible difference, the reward is immediate and measurable.

Volunteers include accountants giving back, credit union staff, students building skills, and former clients like Gurunathan who never forgot someone's kindness. They're part of dozens of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance programs across Oregon, all working to ensure people get money they've already earned.

Oregon begins processing 2025 tax returns this Monday, and appointments at free filing sites book up fast.