Does the date April 15 send shivers down your spine? For many, preparing a tax return can be a daunting and intimidating task. But volunteers from the University of Oregon may be able to help.

For more than a decade, the UO has helped Eugene-area residents complete their taxes, and this year is no different. Volunteers from the Lundquist College of Business's Beta Alpha Psi accounting fraternity and students from the law school provide free preparation of simple federal and state tax returns through the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

"The VITA services are great for the participants in the community because it gives people the opportunity to get their taxes done for free, with quality and close to home," said Lidia Wells, vice president for external communications of Beta Alpha Psi. "I am very glad that UO provides this service."

Students have been offering the tax prep service on on multiple dates throughout February and March. The final days the service will be available this year are Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 13 from noon until 4:30 p.m. in Room 155 of the Lillis Business Complex. Participants are asked to bring their social security cards, a photo identification, and their tax documents, including W-2s and 1099s. People will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

“While the benefit our service offers to clients is easily apparent, what I love most is the benefit that it also offers our volunteers," said Daniel Lee, president of Beta Alpha Psi. "They have the ability to work one-on-one with clients in a professional setting, while working with complicated tax software. These are valuable real world skills that aren't developed in the classroom."

Because VITA is a basic volunteer site, only simple tax returns can be filed. The service is not for people with capital gains or losses, out-of-state income or other items. For more information about the service, please email Lidia Wells at uovita.lidia@gmail.com.