May 19, 2023 4:00 a.m.

This summer the Oregon Department of Revenue will publish a list of delinquent taxpayers on the department’s website.

A DOR release said the agency will post the names of people and businesses who owe at least $50,000 in unpaid taxes to the state. Taxpayers can avoid appearing on the list by paying their balance in full or making payment arrangements. Affected taxpayers will begin receiving notifications during the week of May 22nd and will have nearly eight weeks to resolve their status to avoid being on the list.

DOR Collection Division Administrator Deanna Mack said, “Affected taxpayers should contact us as soon as they receive a notice to revolve the debt”. Mack said, “Publishing this list will support our efforts to collect the revenue that our state counts on”.

The release said the list focuses on individuals and businesses who owe at least $50,000 in delinquent taxes, penalties and interest to DOR.  Taxpayers meeting these criteria will be notified by mail that their names may be posted online. A qualifying taxpayer’s name, business name, the name of any person held personally liable for business debt, the current city and state of residence, lien identification number, type of debt, and current amount due will be available on the department’s website. Taxpayers who don’t want their information shared can pay their tax debt in full or enter a department-approved payment plan or agreement to resolve their debt by the deadline in their notice.

In 2019, the Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 523, authorizing DOR to post information online about delinquent taxpayers whose tax debt topped $50,000. Many states already post information publicly about delinquent taxpayers as part of their efforts to promote greater tax compliance and collect state revenue.

The department initially planned to launch the program in March 2020 but postponed its implementation out of concern for possible financial hardships for taxpayers created by the COVID-19 pandemic.