SALEM — The Oregon Department of Revenue will begin processing e-filed 2023 state income tax returns on Monday, Jan. 29, the same day the Internal Revenue Service will begin processing federal returns.

Paper filed returns will be processed starting in mid-February.

E-filed returns will be processed in the order they are received. However, as in years past, the department won’t be issuing personal income tax refunds until after Feb. 15. A refund hold is part of the department’s tax fraud prevention efforts and allows for confirmation that the amounts claimed on tax returns match what employers report on Forms W-2 and 1099.

E-filing is the fastest way for a taxpayer to get their refund. On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund two weeks sooner than those who file paper returns and request paper refund checks.