Free tax filing available on campus Saturday
University accounting honors society Beta Alpha Psi is holding its fourth and final tax preparation Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program workshop Saturday from 10 to 4 p.m. in 228 Chiles.
About 60 volunteers, including Beta Alpha Psi pledges and members and representatives from the IRS, AARP and local accounting firms, are helping file tax returns.
“This service is free, whereas professionals charge for their services, and even online services charge a small fee to file some returns,” VITA Program Marketing Coordinator Reem Haj said. “We also walk individuals through the process so that they can gain knowledge about how to file their own taxes.”
Haj said VITA has helped about 100 people with their returns this year and more than 700 people since the program started five years ago. He said the most common forms filed are the 1040, 1040EZ and 1040A.
“We help students save money on their returns by helping to identify taxable and nontaxable income depending on whether it is a state or federal return,” Haj said.
The program started at the University when a representative from the IRS contacted Helen Gernon, Charles H. Lundquist College of Business accounting department head, to see if Beta Alpha Psi wanted to participate in the program as a means of community service and as a way to help the fraternity members get more experience in preparing tax returns, Haj said.
Haj said appointments are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. Returns take from 30 minutes to one hour to complete and can be filed electronically if individuals also bring a copy of last year’s tax return.
Haj said interested individuals should bring all tax-related documents and copies of their social security card and last year’s tax return. VITA helps with federal tax forms for U.S. citizens and state returns for Oregon residents. Tax filing information for international students is available at http://oip.uoregon.edu/iss/tax/.

— Jennifer Sudick
 

Casting call to be held Saturday for movie filming in Lane County
CSC Sisters LLC is holding an open casting call Saturday for non-speaking roles in a major motion picture to be shot in Eugene.
“Sisters,” an adaptation of Russian playwright Anton Chekov’s play “Three Sisters,” will be filmed entirely in Lane County, including on the University campus and in Chambers Media Center soundstages.
The cast of “Sisters” includes Maria Bello, Rip Torn, Mary Stuart Masterson and Chris O’Donnell, and is being directed by Arthur Seidelman. The filmmakers are looking for extras, college-age and older, to play students, supermarket patrons and other background characters. Around 60 extras are needed and will be required to work for one to 10 days at minimum wage pay.
“It should be a lot of fun for the extras,” casting director Ed Ragozzino said. “They’ll be hobnobbing with some pretty big stars.”
All those interested in working in the film are asked to go to the East Gate of the Chambers Media Center at 2975 Chad Drive this Saturday at 10 a.m. Applicants are also asked to bring a photograph of themselves and a resumé listing any work-related experience, although experience is not required in order to receive a role.
Principal photography for “Sisters” is scheduled to begin April 17 and end May 15, according to Ragozzino.

— Ryan Nyburg