Want some extra cash?
File a tax return.
Students who made at least $3,000 last year are eligible to receive a check worth up to $600. President Bush recently announced the federal government would award stimulus payments in hopes that taxpayers spend the money to help jump-start the economy. The Internal Revenue Service plans to send the checks in May.
University law and business students are helping students file their taxes from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays (except March 22 and 29) until April 12 in 455 Lillis. AARP volunteers are also helping taxpayers at 12 sites throughout Lane County, including a walk-in service at the Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave.) on Fridays and Saturdays until April 12 starting at 10 a.m.
Taxes can be a daunting task, said Amy Chu, who helped coordinate the campus Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, or VITA.
“They’re scared they’ll mess something up and get a penalty,” Chu said. “We’re here to make sure they’re in good hands.”
Beta Alpha Psi started the campus VITA program in the 1990s, and the program primes student volunteers for professional jobs. The roughly 20 volunteers are accounting and School of Law Pro Bono students who are trained through the IRS.
“We have a lot of people who are learning to be tax lawyers or who are trying out being a tax accountant,” Chu said.
Students who earned less than $40,000 last year are eligible to receive help through VITA, Chu said.

AARP started its program, which is aimed at low- to moderate-income families, for senior citizens, but volunteers will help just about anyone.
“We do taxes for families, students, young people,” said Mary Koebrich, Oregon’s AARP perspective volunteer coordinator. “Our locations are geared for basically anybody who shows up.”
Koebrich said AARP provides a free service for a complicated process.
“A lot of these people have gone to paid services in the past – I won’t mention any names – but they charge them $200 for what we can do for free,” Koebrich said. “This same money is going back to the taxpayers so that they can spend it.”
About 80 volunteers in Lane County are involved in the AARP program, Koebrich said. Most are retired accountants or teachers; some are licensed professionals.
New counselors spend 40 hours training to learn tax laws, Koebrich said. Every volunteer spends three days learning about new laws and programs, and all are tested through the IRS.
Volunteers on campus and through AARP help taxpayers file their taxes electronically to speed the process.
“If you fill everything out on paper and send it to the IRS, someone there has to punch it all into a computer,” Koebrich said.
The IRS estimates the stimulus package will add somewhere between 20 to 25 million new tax filers this year. These people likely didn’t file their taxes during last tax season because they didn’t make enough money. The IRS considers Social Security retirement, survivor and disability benefits as income toward the $3,000 income requirement to be eligible for the stimulus package.
More filers are expected in Lane County, Koebrich said.
Taxpayers seeking help should arrive early and prepared.
The library’s walk-in service, which is open on Fridays and Saturdays, accepts the first 50 people who reserve a spot for the same day, said Pam Roberts, an adult services librarian.
She said she recommends taxpayers come to the library on Fridays because most people don’t work on Saturday, and more service is demanded on that day.
Tax help at the library doesn’t start until 10 a.m., but taxpayers are showing up around 8:30 a.m. to reserve a spot, Roberts said.
“Get there early,” Roberts said. “There’s high demand.”