North Lincoln Sanitary wants to make sure you know that you can use a brown paper bag to line your small plastic mixed compostables bin to keep it clean and ant/bug free. Simply pull or dump the brown paper bag lining the small bin directly into the large bin when full. Please make sure to only use paper bags.

SALEM, OR—The Department of Revenue today announced it will adjust the tax returns for Oregon taxpayers who have already filed their 2020 returns and are due relief from income taxes paid on recently exempted unemployment benefits earned in 2020. [Due to enactment of the American Rescue Plan on March 11, 2021]

“These taxpayers have already done what they were supposed to do. They filed their tax returns on time,” Revenue Director Betsy Imholt said. “We’re going to fix those returns to make sure these taxpayers get the proper refund under the new federal law.”

Oregon taxpayers, who received unemployment in 2020 and have not yet filed their tax returns, can do so now following the instructions the IRS recently provided.

“It’s rare that the department asks taxpayers to wait before filing their tax returns. In this case, it was necessary to give the IRS time to provide guidance and to allow e-file software providers time to update their software once Congress changed the law,” Imholt said.

The American Rescue Plan, signed into law March 11, exempts up to $10,200 of unemployment benefits received in 2020 per individual from taxes for households with less than $150,000 in modified adjusted gross income.

The change affects thousands of Oregon taxpayers who had already filed their state income tax returns, paying taxes on 2020 unemployment benefits, before Congress made the change to the tax code. Today’s announcement means those taxpayers do not need to take action to amend their returns. The department will correct it for them, and, in most cases, affected taxpayers will receive refunds or have a lower tax bill.

The department is still working out the details related to processing the corrections but expects to start adjusting returns next week. More information will be available in the coming days via the department’s American Rescue Plan frequently asked questions.

Most e-file software providers have indicated to DOR that they will have the necessary software updates in place beginning today. Taxpayers who have not yet filed should check with their tax preparer or software provider. More information about e-filing can be found on the agency’s website.

The deadline for filing and paying 2020 income tax returns has been extended by both the IRS and DOR until May 17, 2021.

To get tax forms, check the status of your refund, or make tax payments, visit www.oregon.gov/dor or email questions.dor@oregon.gov. You also can call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish) or 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. For TTY (hearing- or speech-impaired), we accept all relay calls.

Original News Bulletin here.

Frontline workers and all Oregonians with underlying health conditions eligible April 5 Salem, OR—Governor Kate Brown today announced that, in light of increasing vaccine supplies from the federal government and the progress counties and health care providers have made vaccinating seniors, Oregon will again be accelerating its timelines for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility for frontline workers and people with underlying health conditions.

In the past week, after attesting to largely completing senior vaccinations, 22 counties have begun vaccinating Oregonians in Phase 1B, Group 6. On Monday, March 29, Oregonians statewide in Group 6 will become eligible for vaccination, as previously scheduled.

Beginning Monday, April 5, all people in Phase 1B, Group 7 will become eligible for vaccination, two weeks earlier than previously planned. As previously announced, all Oregonians over the age of 16 will become eligible for vaccination no later than May 1.

“As we vaccinate our frontline workers and all Oregonians with underlying health conditions, we will work to make sure vaccines reach the communities that have been hardest hit by COVID-19: Oregon’s Black, Indigenous, Latino, Latina, Latinx, Pacific Islander, Tribal and communities of color,” said Governor Brown. “With so many counties across Oregon ready to begin the next phases of vaccination, I am accelerating our vaccination timelines statewide rather than proceeding county-by-county.

“And, with increased supplies, expanding eligibility will allow health care providers and community-based organizations to be more efficient in their efforts to vaccinate hard-to-reach communities.”

The Oregon Health Authority will hold a media briefing today at 11 a.m. to give a vaccination update.

Phase 1B, Group 6 (No later than March 29)
• Adults 45-64 with underlying health conditions,
• Migrant and seasonal farm workers,
• Seafood and agricultural workers,
• Food processing workers,
• People living in low-income senior housing, senior congregate and independent living,
• People experiencing homelessness,
• People currently displaced by wildfires,
• Wildland firefighters, and
• Pregnant people 16 and older.

Phase 1B, Group 7 (April 5)
• Frontline workers as defined by the CDC,
• Multigenerational household members, and
• Adults 16 and older with underlying health conditions.

The original News Bulletin is here.