State Announces Tax Refunds to be Delayed Until Feb. 15

LAKE OSWEGO, OR - Don't expect a personal income tax refund from the Oregon Department of Revenue until after Feb. 15, 2017.

Department of Revenue officials announced a refund hold that will allow data-matching of amounts claimed on returns to what employers report on Forms W-2 and 1099.

"Data-matching reduces potential refund fraud, and fraud is a problem we want to tackle from every direction we can," said Ken Ross, manager of Revenue's anti-fraud efforts. "The IRS, Oregon, and other states are taking similar measures to prevent potential fraud, capitalizing on the requirement that employers submit W-2 and 1099 information by January 31."

Ross referred to the IRS' announcement earlier this year that taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit won't see their federal refunds until after February 15.

"No one wants to hold up a taxpayer's legitimate refund, and taxpayers have been pretty understanding of the need to combat fraud," Ross said. "We take very seriously our responsibility to make sure tax dollars go to the legitimate owners and not to fraudsters."

In 2015, anti-fraud efforts stopped $6.9 million in fraudulent refunds claimed on almost 4,000 different returns, according to the Department of Revenue.

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.

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