The state of Oregon is delaying the deadline to file state income taxes to match the delayed federal filing date of July 15.

The delay will shortchange state coffers of hundreds of millions of dollars in the near term, and exacerbate a cash pinch at the state due to the falloff in economic activity due to the coronavirus and a surge in people needing safety net services.

In a call with media on Wednesday, Brown said the state is in a quadruple bind, with substantially declining revenues, an unprecedented public health response, enormous pressure on the public safety net, and a requirement, unlike the federal government, to have a balanced budget. .”

The state Treasury Department could issue short term bonds to avert any cash flow crunch. Josh Lehner, an economist at the state office of Economic Development, said the filing delay was unlikely to have serious consequences as the collections will still come within the current two-year budget cycle.

Brown said Wednesday that business who file estimated taxes are still required to do so by April 15.

-- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger

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