A roundup of recent business news:

IRS Free File available for use

Taxpayers can start using IRS Free File to figure their 2011 income taxes. The IRS on Tuesday began making Free File available for this tax season.

Individuals or families with 2011 adjusted gross incomes of $57,000 or less can use Free File software.

Anyone — including those whose adjusted gross income exceeds those limits — can use Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms.

"You can prepare and e-file your tax return at no charge. ... The software helps you find the tax breaks you are due," said Diane Fox, director of the Free File program, in an IRS release.

Free File software is a product of a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance. The alliance is a consortium of about 20 tax software providers that make versions of their free-file products available exclusively at http://www.irs.gov/freefile.

Free File Fillable Forms are best for taxpayers experienced in preparing their own federal tax returns. It performs some math calculations and provides links to IRS publications.

Nominations sought for Innovation Celebration

URBANA — Sponsors of Champaign County's annual Innovation Celebration are seeking nominees for nine awards to be given to local businesses and entrepreneurs next month.

Awards will be given for: Economic Impact, New Venture, Longevity through Innovation, Student Start-Up, Social Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneur Advocacy, Innovation Discovery, Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurial Excellence in Management.

Nominations can be made online at the http://www.innovationcelebration.com website through Feb. 7.

The awards presentation will be 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, 405 N. Mathews Ave., U. More than 175 people attended last year's presentation.

This will be the seventh year for the awards.

2012 Business Expo set for March 14 at Assembly Hall

CHAMPAIGN — The 2012 East Central Illinois Business Expo has been set for March 14 at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall.

The free event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., gives the public a chance to learn more about area businesses and their products.

Coordinated by the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, the expo offers prizes, as well as free parking.

Two separate events, the Provena Ultimate Power Lunch and the BankChampaign Wine Tasting, are held in conjunction with the expo.

The power lunch, which features "taste-sized" portions from area restaurants and caterers, will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m, The wine tasting begins at 4 p.m.

Deadline for businesses to register for the expo is Feb. 24.

More information about the expo and power lunch is available from Stephanie Finney at the chamber, 359-1791.

Chabad Center to offer Money Matters class

CHAMPAIGN — The Chabad Center for Jewish Life will offer a class, "Money Matters: Jewish Business Ethics," on six Sundays, beginning this Sunday.

The sessions are designed to present Judaism's approach to practical economic dilemmas and monetary quandaries.

The class will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the center, 509 S. Fourth St., C. Cost of the class is $79. More information is available by calling 355-8672.

Union Pacific sponsoring video remake contest

OMAHA, Neb. — Union Pacific Railroad is offering more than $35,000 in prizes as part of a video remake contest.

In conjunction with the railroad's 150th anniversary, contestants are being challenged to remake Union Pacific's 1970s television commercial, "We Can Handle It."

The original spots featured hand-clapping, feet-stamping employees singing the "Great Big Rollin' Railroad" lyrics.

The contest encourages entries from all music genres, including blues, reggae, pop, country, rock, hip hop, rap and jazz.

The grand prize winner will receive $15,000, two finalists will receive $5,000 each, and six runners-up will receive $1,000 each. Additionally, one entry a month will be chosen to receive $1,000.

Entry deadline is July 1. Contestants must be at least 18 years old.

Information, rules and sheet music to the "Great Big Rollin' Railroad" song are available at http://www.up150.com.

Contest offers chance to get products sold at Walmart

Walmart is sponsoring a contest to give people with products the chance to have them sold at Walmart stores and Walmart.com.

The "Get on the Shelf" contest encourages people to create videos of their inventions, with the public voting online to determine winners.

Two rounds of voting will be used to choose the top three products to be sold on Walmart.com. The grand prize winner's product will be sold on Walmart.com and get shelf space in select Walmart stores.

Entries already include a new hot sauce, an iPad pillow and paw puffs for dogs.

Videos can be submitted until Feb. 22 at http://getontheshelf.com. The first round of voting will be March 7 through April 4, at which point 10 finalists will be announced. The second round will be April 11 through April 23.

Walmart employees are not eligible to participate.

Illinois bands vie for online votes in Maurices' contest

Thirty-seven bands from Illinois are taking part in Maurices' "Hometown Sound" contest, hoping to win a chance to shoot a music video in Los Angeles and perform at an event in Austin, Texas.

More than 800 bands altogether are taking part in the contest.

Online voting for the bands continues through Monday at the mauricesmusic.sonicbids.com website and at Maurices' Facebook page.

Online voting will narrow the field to 50. A group of panelists will select four finalists, and a follow-up round of online voting will take place Feb. 6 through March 4.

Last year, 525 bands took part in the contest sponsored by the young women's fashion retailer.