Oregon Volunteers Offer Free Tax Help to 67,000+ Families

Tax season just got a whole lot easier for thousands of Oregon families who need it most.

Through the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, trained volunteers are offering free tax preparation help to anyone earning $67,000 or less. The service is available at multiple sites across Oregon, including Corvallis, Eugene, Bend, Roseburg, and Redmond.

"We strive to serve any individuals and families with income of $67,000 or less," said Shelly Krehbiel, VITA program manager for Oregon State University. The program also prioritizes people with English as a second language, those in rural areas without reliable internet access, and students filing taxes for the first time.

The volunteers aren't just showing up unprepared. Lexi Rusk, a senior political science major at OSU, went through a month of intensive training before helping her first taxpayer. "They come in once a week, we go through a lecture, do examples together and there's a few different tests that volunteers have to take," she explained.

Each training session builds on the last, with interactive demonstrations that prepare volunteers to handle real tax situations. Rusk first learned about the opportunity from her roommate and jumped at the chance to help her community.

The Ripple Effect

The program reaches far beyond simple number crunching. For families struggling with tight budgets, professional tax preparation fees can eat up precious refund dollars. By eliminating that cost, VITA volunteers help people keep more of their hard-earned money.

Rural Oregonians who might drive hours to reach paid tax services now have local options. Students navigating the confusing world of taxes for the first time get patient guidance instead of expensive mistakes. Immigrant families can access help in their own language, making a stressful process feel manageable.

The program transforms what could be an overwhelming annual burden into a free, supportive experience. Each completed return represents one less barrier between a family and their financial stability.

Most sites require appointments, and the IRS provides a clear list of documents to bring. Interested Oregonians can find their nearest location through the IRS's free tax assistance locator website.

Young volunteers like Rusk are proving that small acts of service create big community impact.