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Taxes in 2023: Forms and assistance

Every year during tax filing season, the library is ready to help— whether that be books, workshops, referrals to tax help, or printing out the forms you need, we're here for you!

Look for Upcoming Events, Programs and Blog Posts on our site for the most up-to-date information.

The deadline to file federal and state tax returns is Tuesday, April 18, 2023. You can get tax preparation assistance and support in the following ways:

Paper copies of tax forms or instructions

• Download and print forms and instructions from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Forms & Instructions page and the Oregon Department of Revenue Forms and Publications page. If you are unable to print forms at home, you can send items to the library's printers from almost any device or location with an internet connection.
• Have forms mailed to you. To receive federal tax forms by mail, follow the instructions on the IRS website or call 800.829.3676. To receive Oregon tax forms by mail, fill out the online order form or call 503.378.4988 or 800.356.4222 (toll free).
• Pick up some federal forms at the library. A limited number of federal tax forms are available at library locations; to find out what’s available at a location near you, call 503.988.5123, send us an email, or chat with us. 
• The Oregon Department of Revenue no longer sends state tax forms and booklets to libraries, so we will not have any Oregon paper forms available. However, we can print many of the forms you need; contact us or ask at any library location.  

Tax return preparation assistance

• IRS-certified volunteers are providing in-person and virtual tax help starting January 28th. Call (503) 243-7765 to see if you qualify and make an appointment. Language translation services are available. You can find more information and intake packets online. Provided by Metropolitan Family Service and CASH Oregon as part of IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA).
• Other community groups host in-person and virtual IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs for qualifying taxpayers; check the IRS Free tax return preparation site for partners providing this service in your area.
• CASH Oregon now has options for virtual, scan and go, and in person tax help appointments at various locations in the Portland area.  
• CASH Oregon can also assist with Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) applications and renewals. Call 844-972-1467 for more information.
• AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offering online tax help. There is an extensive self-help section; you can also email them your questions regarding federal income taxes.  For one-on-one tax help through AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, use their locator tool to find a site near you.
• If you work as a rideshare driver, Roadmap to Rideshare Taxes can help you navigate how self-employment taxes work, how to count your driving income, how to track tax deductions, and how to pay estimated taxes.
• Get help from the IRS online or by calling 800.829.1040.
• Get help from the Oregon Department of Revenue online by emailing Questions.dor@dor.oregon.gov, or by calling 503-378-4988 or 800.356.4222. Open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Phone lines are closed 9 to 11 a.m. Thursdays and on holidays.
• Get more information about the Portland Arts Education and Access Income Tax on the Portland Revenue Online website or by calling 503-865-4278.

Other tax assistance

• If you need assistance with a tax issue beyond regular tax preparation, the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic from Lewis & Clark Law School might be able to help. They provide free need-based legal representation in Federal tax matters, specializing in client controversy with the IRS.  Contact them by emailing litc@lclark.edu or filling out an online form.
• Questions about IRS Administrative rulings & positions? Want to read analysis of recent tax legislation or the CCH Tax Briefings (newsletter)? VitalLaw (formerly CCH Cheetah) is a resource largely for tax attorneys and professional tax preparers that may help with unusual tax situations. It is available in any of our 17 library locations (no remote access).

File your taxes online for free

• CASH Oregon has a list of online filing options that are free if you meet certain qualifications.
• IRS Free File lets you prepare and file your federal income tax online for free.
• The Oregon Department of Revenue has a list of approved tax preparation software products that are free if you qualify. Learn more about e-filing information for Oregon.
• Use the IRS free fillable forms starting in late January. Oregon no longer has free fillable forms ​that can be filed online. Oregon forms are PDFs you can fill out before printing if you are not e-filing.
• MyFreeTaxes from the United Way helps qualifying taxpayers prepare and e-file their own federal and state returns for free, and includes various ways to get support. Regular operations will begin again in late January 2023.

Still have questions?

Call the library at 503.988.5123, send us an email or chat with us. Library staff cannot prepare returns, advise on tax matters, or interpret tax law.

Lara P.

Los años a partir del 2020 han sido estresantes para las familias. Hay muchas ideas sobre cómo reducir el estrés y algunas de las que nos entusiasman provienen de OK You, una "organización sin fines de lucro que apoya a los jóvenes en el uso de prácticas creativas para mantenerse conectados con su yo para estar OK". Recientemente, la biblioteca tuvo la oportunidad de hablar con la fundadora y directora del programa OK You, Kathleen Lane. Ella habló de cómo los proyectos diseñados por diversos artistas "proporcionan una oportunidad segura para la expresión, la conversación y comprensión. Empezar o terminar el día con un proyecto de OK You es una forma genial de establecer una conexión en familia mientras se usa la creatividad para liberar, compartir y navegar a través de momentos y emociones difíciles". 

Cuando se le preguntó cómo fue creado OK You, Lane dijo: "Me pareció muy, muy importante compartir con los jóvenes otra forma de enfrentar sus miedos y preocupaciones; que pudieran tener una nueva forma de verse a sí mismos y dejar la pena; dejar de decir ‘qué hay de malo en mí’, y en su lugar decir ‘qué hay de bueno en mí’ y ver todas esas hermosas conecciones entre ansiedad y creatividad, ansiedad y empatía... De eso se trata realmente este programa; se trata de... descubrir todas las cosas bellas que llevas dentro y saber que tenemos la capacidad, a través de esos talentos, de ser creativos para manejar nuestros miedos y preocupaciones... podemos tener acceso a esos mismos talentos que provienen de la ansiedad para sobrellevar la ansiedad".

OK You se ha usado en entornos como escuelas y espacios comunitarios, pero Lane compartió dos proyectos que las familias pueden hacer en casa. Lo primero que me vino a la mente fue el OK Kit. "Un OK Kit puede ayudarte a recordar todas las cosas buenas que hay en tu vida, y en ti mismo, para que puedas enfrentar cada día con calma y valentía. De esa manera, cuando estés preocupado o experimentes momentos desafiantes, estarás mejor preparado para superarlos". Este es un gran proyecto para que la familia lo haga junta. Como dijo Lane, "es un magnífico ritual de comunicación para el desayuno, la cena o antes de acostarse... algo en lo que todo el mundo puede compartir lo que ha agregado o su objeto favorito adentro; es una forma estupenda de entablar un diálogo emocional en el hogar".

También mencionó Dados Agradables como un divertido proyecto familiar. Dados Agradables es básicamente cuando se te ocurren seis ideas diferentes de autocuidado y las agregas a las caras de un dado de 6 caras, y luego cuando estás estresado o preocupado puedes tirar tu dado y obtener una idea de algo que hacer para sentirte mejor. Y Lane dijo que cuando la familia lo hace junta ¡puede ser divertido! Por ejemplo, si dos niños tiran sus dados e intentan hacer las dos cosas a la vez, ¡puede que se abracen mientras cantan o se estiran!

Lane hizo un maravilloso resumen del poder de OK You: "Creo que los niños a cierta edad pueden convertirse en un misterio para sus padres y encierran tantos sentimientos... y creo que el hecho de tener esta oportunidad a través de prácticas creativas para dejar salir algo de esto... el simple hecho de tener algo con lo que puedes trabajar con tus manos... De algún modo esto disminuye un poco la tensión y creo que es muy importante que los niños vean que todos luchamos por superar esto. Es un viaje que dura toda la vida, en el que navegamos y nos ocupamos de todos esos sentimientos que aparecen y que está bien, que es normal, que es parte de ser humano. Nuestra cultura como que nos vende la idea de que todos debemos aspirar a ser felices y todo lo demás son sentimientos malos. Pero podemos aprender mucho de todos los sentimientos que surgen en nosotros y que los padres den el ejemplo de que está bien incluso decir: ‘Estoy teniendo un día muy difícil. Estoy realmente estresado’. Y que los niños vean que [sus padres] siguen ahí, sentados a la mesa de la cocina y que mañana estarán mejor".

 

The 2020s have been stressful for families. There are numerous ideas on ways to reduce stress, and some we are really excited about come from OK You, a “nonprofit that supports youth in using creative practices to stay connected to their OK selves.” The library recently had a chance to speak with OK You’s founder and Program Director, Kathleen Lane. She talked about how the projects — designed by diverse artists —  "provide a safe opening for expression, conversation, and understanding. Beginning or ending the day with an OK You project is a great way to connect as a family while using creativity to release, share and navigate through difficult moments and emotions.” 

When asked how OK You came about, Lane said, “It really, really felt important to me to share with young people some other way of holding their fears and worries, that they could have a new way of seeing themselves and drop the shame — drop the ‘what's wrong with me’ — and instead identify more with ‘what's right with me’ and see all those beautiful connections between anxiety and creativity, anxiety and empathy… That's what this program is really about, it's about …discovering all the beautiful things that you carry inside you and [to] know that we do have the ability through those gifts to get creative around how we handle our fears and worries… we can access those same gifts that come from anxiety to navigate anxiety.”

OK You has been used in settings like schools and community spaces, but Lane shared two projects families can do at home. The first that came to mind was the OK Kit Project (Spanish). “An OK Kit can help you remember all the good things in your life — and in you — so you can face each day with calm and courage. That way, when worries or challenging moments come your way, you’ll be better able to get through them.” And this is a great project for the family to do together. As Lane said, “it's a great check-in ritual you can have at the breakfast table or at dinner or before bed… something where everybody opens up and shares something that they added, or their favorite object inside. It's a great way to just open an emotional dialogue in the home.”

She also mentioned Nice Dice as a fun family project. Nice Dice (Spanish) is basically where you come up with six different self-care ideas and add them to the sides of a 6-sided die, and then when you are stressed or worried you can roll your die and get an idea of something to do to make you feel better. And Lane said when the family is doing it together, it can get silly! Like if two kids roll theirs and try to do both things at the same time, so maybe hugging while singing or stretching!

Lane gave a wonderful summary of the power of OK You: “I think kids at a certain age can become mysteries to their parents and they hold so many feelings… and I think just having this opportunity through creative practices to let some of it come out… just having something that you're working with with your hands…. It kind of diffuses that tension a little bit and then I think it's really important for kids to see that we're all working through this. It’s a lifelong journey working through and navigating all these feelings that come up and that it's okay, it's normal, it's part of being human. Our culture sort of sells this idea that we're all supposed to aim for happy and everything else, those are the bad feelings. But we can learn so much from all of the feelings that come up for us and for parents to model that it's okay to even say, ‘I'm having a really hard day. I'm really stressed out.’ And then for kids to see that [their parents] are still sitting at the kitchen table and tomorrow they're better.”

This article was written for our Family Newsletter, available in English and Spanish. Please sign up here and you can email us at learning@multcolib.org with any questions.

农历新年在亚洲各地是一个表达感恩之情、回顾一年的收获、以及与亲朋好友团聚庆祝的重要节日，农历新年在穆鲁玛郡图书馆也是我们与社区民众共同欢庆民间历史传统活动的时节。

中文双语图书馆专员Toan Lam-Sullivan说道：“这是一个阖家团圆、辞旧迎新的节日。”

农历新年就是农历正月的第一天，一般是在1月底或2月初。每个农历新年对应着一种十二生肖中的动物，2023年是中国的兔年，同时也是越南的猫年。 

各个国家和地区有着不同的农历新年习俗，农历新年持续3到16天，通常会有大型演出、音乐会、和烟花表演等活动。

越南语双语图书馆助理Lan Phan分享了在越南文化中新年第一天的习俗：“每个人会庆祝自己的生日；我们还有贺新年的习俗，越南语叫做‘mừng tuổi’，就是拜年的意思，每个人都会得到一份礼物；还会在红色的信封中放入新钞，发给孩子和未婚的人，通常是祖父母、父母、姑姑、叔叔给孩子们发红包；此外，某些公司也会发红包给员工，作为新年兴旺、吉祥如意的引路财。”

Lan还说道： “回顾过去的一年及展望新的一年” 也是农历新年的一项传统。一家人聚在一起 “祝福老年人在新的一年健康长寿、打扫住所、准备礼物、煮”bánh chưng”这种传统美味的甜口米糕；并且相互致赠寓意吉祥如意的红包。” 除了打扫和装饰住所，许多家庭还会准备祭祀活动，为祖先和已故亲人呈上贡品。

每个地区都有自己的饮食习俗，会准备不同的食物来庆祝新年。 

Toan说道： “在中国的北方地区，有许多以小麦粉为主材料的食物，而在中国的南方地区，则有许多以米粉为主材料的食物。我家人就是南方人，我们会吃一种有芝麻馅料的甜口米团，叫做汤圆，”圆圆的造型代表着合家幸福与团团圆圆。”

尽管每个地区有着不同的饮食习俗，但两种文化间却有着一个相似之处，就是要在农历新年表演舞龙与舞狮两种舞蹈，这两种表演寓意着祈求来年的丰收和平安，舞狮需要两个人合力完成，而舞龙则需要五个人以上。

在过去的10年间，图书馆举办的农历新年活动和演出往往吸引了数以百记名的男女老少民众参观。今年，图书馆将于1月13日在Gregory Heights图书馆举办以越南语进行的越南手工活动，于1月15日在Woodstock图书馆举办写春联活动（华语）。如需了解更多信息，请访问图书馆网站。

Does homework have you and your family stressed out? Have you forgotten algebra or physics or U.S. history? Or never took those classes at all? 

If your student needs some extra help with their assignments, try Live Homework Help from Tutor.com. Through a live chat, students can get free one-on-one help with an expert tutor in the areas of language arts, math, science or social studies. You can type in a question or attach a document or photo of the assignment. Live Homework Help is available every day from noon to midnight in English and Spanish and from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Vietnamese. Just type in your library card/Library Connect number and then choose your grade level and subject. This video with step-by-step instructions guides you through the process. 

In addition to the live chat, Live Homework Help offers these other helpful services when you set up a free account:

• Submit a paper: Upload a written assignment and a tutor will give you feedback–just a little, or a lot–depending on what you need, all within 12 hours. 
• Drop off a math question: If you don’t have time to work with a tutor one-on-one, submit your math problem and get a detailed response within 48 hours.
  
• Sample quizzes: Are you ready for a quiz? Select a practice quiz in algebra, biology, calculus, chemistry, English, geometry, or physics to test your knowledge. 
• Prep for standardized tests: If you’ll be taking a test like an AP exam, the SAT or ACT, or graduate school entrance exams, you can find preparation tools and sample tests. 
• Resume help: Upload your resume or cover letter to have it reviewed by an expert.
• Study resources: Websites, videos, games and flashcards are available 24 hours a day on many subjects.
• Review your previous chat sessions with a tutor whenever needed.
   

Hopefully using Live Homework Help can relieve some of that homework stress! You may also wish to check out these other tutoring resources. 

This article was written for our Family Newsletter, available in English and Spanish. Please sign up here and you can email us at learning@multcolib.org with any questions.

All across Asia, Lunar New Year is a time of appreciation, reflection and celebration with family and friends. At Multnomah County Library, Lunar New Year is a special time for fun and engaging library programs that share the history and traditions of this celebration with the local community.

“Being with family as a reunion, to say goodbye to the old and to welcome a new beginning is what this time is about,” says Toan Lam-Sullivan, bilingual Chinese regional librarian.

Lunar New Year, the start of a new lunar calendar year, occurs at the end of January or early February. A zodiac animal guides each lunar year. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit for the Chinese community and the Year of the Cat in the Vietnamese calendar. 

Lunar New Year traditions vary by country and region. They can last anywhere from 3 to 16 days and often include large gatherings consisting of performances, music and fireworks.

Lan Phan, bilingual Vietnamese library assistant, shares that on the first day of the new year in Vietnamese culture, "everybody celebrates their birthdays. We have the tradition of wishing the new age, which is called ‘mừng tuổi,’ in which everyone gets a gift. The red envelopes containing newly printed paper money are for kids and sometimes adults, too, if they are not married. Usually, the grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles give out red envelopes to kids. Additionally, some employers can choose to give out red envelopes to their employees as a token of wishing for prosperity and good luck in the new year."

Lunar New Year offers a chance to “reflect on the past year and look forward to the upcoming one,” says Lan. Families will “give well wishes to the elderly for the new year; clean the house; prepare gifts; cook bánh chưng, a traditional and delicious sweet rice cake; and share the red envelopes as a token of good luck.” Besides cleaning and decorating the house, many families also prepare an altar to offer gifts to their ancestors and deceased family members.

Each region has its own culinary tradition and unique foods to begin the new year. 

“In the north of China, there are many foods with a base of wheat flour, then in the south of China there are many dishes with a rice flour base,” says Toan. “In the southern part of China, where my family came from, we eat sweet rice balls with sesame seeds filling (汤圆/Tāngyuán). The round shape symbolizes harmony and togetherness.”

While culinary traditions differ from region to region, one similarity across cultures is the two types of dances performed during the Lunar New Year— the lion dance and the dragon dance. They are meant to bring prosperity and success in the coming year. The lion dance consists of two performers, and the dragon dance consists of more than five.

For the past 10 years, the library has hosted Lunar New Year events and activities, which often draw hundreds of patrons of all ages. This year, the library will offer a Vietnamese craft project at Gregory Heights Library on January 13 in Vietnamese, and a spring couplet workshop at Woodstock Library on January 15 in Chinese. For more information, visit the library website.

Annie Lewis knows libraries inside and out, from singing songs with kids in storytime, to outreach and services all over the county. She believes libraries are about belonging — for everyone, in all walks of life. As the new deputy director of Multnomah County Library, Annie provides leadership for the public services division of the library and oversees: 

• Location services (19 library locations)
• Community services (outreach, events and virtual)
• Books and materials inside the library and the digital collections
• Library policies and procedures
• Office of Project Management and Evaluation

Annie started working at Multnomah County Library in 2014 as a Bilingual Spanish Youth Librarian. Since then, she has been working in various roles including as a Library Supervisor, Early Childhood Services Manager, Interim Neighborhood Libraries Director, and Director of Library Community Services. Before joining the library, Annie worked as an adult services librarian at Beaverton City Library and as a librarian at Tualatin Public Library. She studied History and Spanish at Pacific University and later received a Masters degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Washington. 

Q: Do you have a favorite book-to-movie adaptation?

AL: One of my favorite book-to-movie adaptations is The Elegance of the Hedgehog, which is the book, and the movie is The Hedgehog. The book is beautiful and has such rich character development. But the movie narrows in on the personality traits and complexity of the characters. It’s a love story, but it also touches on family dynamics, social isolation and has an ending that left me sobbing.

Q: What is one of your favorite things that the library offers?

AL: The library offers so many incredible resources that it’s hard to choose just one, but I’d have to say providing free public computer access for printing, scanning, faxing, and copy machines and staff who are able to assist patrons with access. It's helping a large part of our community meet needs in ways that ensure more equitable access to the services that are only available online or through the use of technology.

Q: Tell us about a meaningful experience you’ve had in your library career

AL: Part of my job as a librarian that has brought me the most joy is leading storytimes with young children. I love making connections with children and inspiring them to sing, dance, play, and most importantly, develop the fundamental skills to be able to read. 

Q: What’s something that people may not know about the library?

AL: The library does a lot of work outside of library buildings. We have a number of partnerships where we provide books and literacy support for children and adults in a variety of settings throughout the community. I think that's more hidden because we are doing that with our partners such as the Every Child a Reader program which works with Head Start programs, home visiting programs and other early childhood providers across the county. We also partner with the Multnomah County Health Department and the Reach Out and Read program to give books to children in health clinics at their well-child visits. We have a number of specialized programs for adults as well including library services for adults in custody at Inverness Jail & Columbia River Correctional Facility, our adult literacy programs and books by mail for individuals who are homebound. These and more are the less visible services but are incredibly impactful to those receiving them.

Q: When you think about the future of the library, what do you envision?  

AL: The key features of our new spaces, in addition to the future of libraries, in general, is about providing space and place for people. So people can not only access resources such as technology, books and other literacy support materials, but also have spaces to gather. Libraries are really that space where you don’t have to have any membership to belong, you don’t have to pay a fee to enter, and everyone in the community is invited and can be in that space. It’s our job as the library to provide spaces that are as inclusive as possible.

Holidays. There are quite a few of them in the fall and winter months, and they’re supposed to be fun, right? Except for many people, they can be stressful. Some facets that can be issues for teens, tweens and pretty much anybody:

• Your favorite holiday is problematic
• Your family is a mess
• You have no $$
• You are without personal or family traditions
• You don't believe in _______ (fill in thing that requires belief)
• You have food allergies
• You’re struggling with mental health

Here are some things to read (or watch) about those subjects.

Surviving and Thriving During the Holidays, Mt. Sinai Adolescent Health Center

“It’s Okay to Like Problematic Things”, URGE  

Tips for Managing the Holiday Blues, National Institute of Mental Health

Dealing with Grief During the Holidays (Doesn’t Mean Avoiding It), Teen Vogue 

Why Coming Out to my Family is Not on My Holiday To-Do List, Teen Vogue

The Agnostic’s Holiday (written by a teen for teens!)

A Teen’s Perspective on the Holidays with Food Allergies, Food Allergy Research and Education

Local teens create the All In My Head: Real Teens, Real Talk podcast, and there are two episodes about therapy: Therapy Part 1: The Teens features teens reflecting on their mental health journeys, and Therapy Part 2: The Therapist has an interview with a local mental health professional, plus tips for teens on talking to families about mental health and therapy.

This article was written for our Family Newsletter, available in English and Spanish. Please sign up here, and you can email us at learning@multcolib.org with any questions.