Tax center opening for business

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danny Monahan
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
All active-duty service members, retirees, and reservists on active duty for 30 days or more, as well as family members, are eligible for free tax assistance at the base tax center beginning Jan. 22.

The base provides trained volunteers to advise, prepare and electronically file all federal and state income tax returns through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

"The tax center saves military members the cost of commercial preparation fees and provides for rapid receipt of refunds," said Tech. Sgt. Loretta Grantman, 5th Bomb Wing Legal Office. "Most federal returns are directly deposited into people's accounts within seven to 10 days."

The base tax center is located on the first floor of the PRIDE Building and is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. The tax center will also be open for appointment-only tax preparation from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

From Jan. 22 to Feb. 16, only Airmen in the grades of E-1 through E-5 and O-1 through O-2 are eligible for walk-in tax preparation. Beginning Feb. 19, the tax center will perform walk-in tax preparation for all ranks, civilians and military retirees in addition to tax preparation by appointment.

"Several Airmen have recently contacted the legal office with questions about how to handle their taxes when deployed," said Sergeant Grantman.

Airmen deploying or are deployed are entitled to several tax benefits.

Deployed Airmen who spend even one day in a month in a qualified combat zone do not pay federal income tax on their pay for that month and receive an automatic extension of time to file their tax return.

The length of the extension an Airman gets to file their taxes is 180 days plus the number of days served in the combat zone plus the number of days of any hospitalization from injuries sustained in a combat zone, plus the number of days spent in the combat zone during tax filing season (Jan. 1 to April 15). The extension starts the day the deployed member returns home from a combat zone.

"Airmen need not file anything with the Internal Revenue Service to receive the extension," said Sergeant Grantman. "It is automatic."

When an Airman files, they should write the name of the operation deployed to on their return, such as "Operation Enduring Freedom." If an Airman wants to file a joint return with their spouse, the spouse also receives an extension to file.

"However, most deployed Airmen will want to file their taxes quickly if they are entitled to a refund," said Sergeant Grantman. "In that case, an Airman can get a power-of-attorney or an IRS form 2848 from the IRS Web site to allow their spouse or another individual to file taxes on their behalf."

Airmen who performed a military do-it-yourself move during a permanent change of station in the last year and received payment must wait for a W-2 regarding payment for the move.

Also, people who are going to claim educator's expense or a tuition-and-fees deduction should wait until at least Feb. 20 to file because the IRS will not process any return with these credits until the middle of February.

The following documents are needed to prepare federal and state tax returns:

Recommended documents
--ID card and Social Security card for all people named on return
--Voided check for people using direct deposit options
--All W-2s
--Copy of last year's return
--All 1099s or other statements of interest and dividend earnings
-- IRA and pension contributions
--Alimony paid or received
--Qualified moving expenses

Child care
--Information on child care provider
--Correct figure for child care expenses

Qualified higher education
--Student loan interest
--Tuition paid or paid on behalf of another

For tax-related information or to make an appointment, call 723-7377.