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Transit Payroll Taxes for Employers
Should I be filing?
 
A guide to TriMet and Lane Transit payroll taxes.
 
Transit District Taxes
 
The Oregon Department of Revenue administers tax programs for the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District (TriMet) and the Lane County Mass Transit District (LTD). Nearly every employer who pays wages for services performed in these districts must pay transit payroll tax.
 
The transit tax is imposed directly on the employer. The tax is figured only on the amount of gross payroll for services performed within the TriMet or Lane Transit districts. This includes traveling sales representatives and employees working from home.
 
Who must file and pay?
 
All employers, including nonresident employers, who are paying wages earned in the TriMet or LTD districts must register and file with the Oregon Department of Revenue. Wages include all salaries, commissions, bonuses, fees, payments to a deferred compensation plan, or other items of value.
 
Your payroll service may not be aware that you have employees working in the transit districts. If so, you need to contact the service regarding your reporting and payment responsibility.
 
How to register
 
If you are a new employer and subject to the transit tax, complete the Combined Employer’s Registration, 150-211-055, including the transit tax section.
 
If you are currently registered and have employees in the transit tax districts, complete the Change in Status Report, 150-211-157.
 
These forms are available on the internet at www.oregon.gov/DOR/BUS, or by contacting the Oregon Department of Revenue at 503-945-8100.
 
TriMet logo
Transit District
 
ZIP Code List
 
Use this list as a guideline to help determine if you have employees in the Trimet Transit District. Some ZIP codes may not coincide with the district boundaries. For TriMet boundary questions, call TriMet at 503-962-6466.
 
ZIP Codes Completely in TriMet Transit District
 
97005
      
97068
      
97210
      
97219
      
97232
97006
 
97201
 
97211
 
97220
 
97233
97008
 
97202
 
97212
 
97221
 
97236
97024
 
97203
 
97213
 
97222
 
97239
97027
 
97204
 
97214
 
97223
 
97258
97030
 
97205
 
97215
 
97225
 
97266
97034
 
97206
 
97216
 
97227
 
97267
97035
 
97208
 
97217
 
97229
 
97268
97036
 
97209
 
97218
 
97230
 
 
 
ZIP Codes Partially in TriMet Transit District

97007
      
97055
      
97113
97009
 
97060
 
97116
97013
 
97062
 
97123
97015
 
97070
 
97124
97019
 
97080
 
97140
97022
 
97086
 
97224
97023
 
97089
 
97231
97045
 
   
 
 
Counties
Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington 
 
TriMet Transit District Rate

1/1/1989 to 12/31/99
 
.006176
1/1/2000 to 12/31/01
 
.006195
1/1/2002 to 12/31/04
 
.006218
1/1/2005 to 12/31/05
 
.006318
1/1/2006 to 12/31/06
 
.006418
1/1/2007 to 12/31/07
 
.006518
1/1/2008
 .006618
 
Deleted from TriMet
(Transit still subject prior to the deletion date)
 
Canby
 
1/1/02
Sandy
 
1/1/00
Wilsonville
 
1/1/89
Molalla
 
1/1/89
Damascus
 
1/1/89
 
Lane Transit District logo
Lane Transit District

ZIP Code List
 
Use this list as a guideline to help determine if you have employees in the Lane Transit District. Some ZIP codes may not coincide with the district boundaries. For Lane Transit boundary questions, call LTD at 541-682-6100.
 
City
 
ZIP Code
Alvadore
 
97409
Blue River
 
97413
Coburg
 
97408
Cottage Grove
 
97424
Creswell
 
97426
Dexter
 
97431
Elmira
 
97437
Eugene
 
97401–97405
Eugene
 
97408
Eugene
 
97440
Fall Creek
 
97438
Finn Rock
 
97488
Goshen
 
97405
Jasper
 
97438
Junction City
 
97448
Lancaster
 
97448
Leaburg
 
97489
Lowell
 
97452
Maywood
 
97413
McKenzie Bridge
      
97413
Pleasant Hill
 
97455
Springfield
 
97477–97478
Thurston
 
97482
Trent
 
97431
Veneta
 
97487
Vida
 
97488
Walterville
 
97488
 
County
Lane 
 
Lane Transit District Rate
 
10/1/94 to 12/31/06
 
.006
1/1/07 to 12/31/07
 
.0062
1/1/08
 .0064
 
When to file the transit tax
 
Your transit tax is reported quarterly using the Oregon Quarterly Tax Report (Form OQ). Make your payment using the payment coupon, Form OTC, or through the department’s electronic fund transfer (EFT). For EFT information, please call 503-947-2017.
 
How to figure the transit tax
 
Multiply the gross taxable payroll earned within the transit district by the current transit rate. The current rate should be printed in the TriMet/LTD portion of the Oregon Quarterly Combined Tax Report (Form OQ).
 
Exempt payroll

The following are exempt from transit payroll taxes:
  1. Federal credit unions.
  2. Public school districts.
  3. 501(c)(3) nonprofit and tax-exempt institutions (except hospitals).
  4. Insurance companies (except domestic insurers).
  5. Domestic service in a private home.
The following are exempt from LTD, but subject to TriMet taxes:
  1. Public education districts.
  2. Public special service and utility districts.
  3. Port authorities.
  4. Fire districts.
  5. City, county, and other local governments.
For more definitions of exempt payroll for payroll taxes, refer to the Oregon Business Guide.
 
Penalty and interest
  • You will be charged a 5 percent penalty on any unpaid tax after the return's due date.
  • You will be charged an additional 20 percent penalty on any tax due if Form OQ is filed more than one months late.
  • You will also be charged interest, at the current rate, on the unpaid tax from the return's due date.
Contact
 
For more information on TriMet or LTD tax, call the Oregon Department of Revenue at 503-945-8100.
 
Self-employment transit tax
 
If you have self-employment earnings within a transit district, they may be subject to transit self-employment tax. For more information, call 503-378-4988.
 
You may download forms from our website: www.oregon.gov/DOR/BUS , or write to:
 
Forms, Oregon Department of Revenue
PO Box 14999
Salem, OR 97309-0990
 
If you use a payroll service or a tax preparer, please be sure your preparer is filing and depositing correctly for transit taxes.

150-211-503 (Rev. 01-2008)

 
Page updated: January 04, 2008

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