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County updates tax code confidentiality to match state law; board adopts two ordinances
Summary
On second reading the board adopted amendments to Multnomah County Code Chapters 12 and 11.500 to align taxpayer confidentiality with state law (House Bill 4031 / ORS 314.835) and made administrative clarifications to protest and interest rules.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 17, 2024 adopted two code amendments that align local taxpayer confidentiality rules with recent changes at the state level.
Eric Arellano, the county’s chief financial officer, told the board the changes implement language from House Bill 4031 and a corresponding amendment to Oregon law (ORS 314.835) that extends taxpayer confidentiality provisions to local governments for taxes measured by net or gross income. Arellano said the amendments provide clearer guidance to tax administrators and protect individual taxpayer information while permitting aggregated reporting of tax-program totals.
Both ordinances also included administrative 'housekeeping' clarifications. The changes permit limited extensions for the 30-day protest period for taxpayers who need extra time to prepare tax protests, and clarify treatment of interest for underpaid quarterly preschool-for-all tax liabilities (interest was not applied during amnesty years 2021–22 but applied starting tax year 2023). Arellano also noted TurboTax will incorporate preschool-for-all for tax year 2024, easing compliance for many taxpayers.
Commissioners asked for additional information about new filers and quarterly-payment obligations; staff said they will provide more complete data in November because 2022–23 filings are still being finalized. The board conducted a roll-call vote and adopted both ordinances.
