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Base tax center offers free tax services

  • Published
  • 55th Wing Legal Office

April 18 may seem distant now; but the clock is ticking toward the 2017 tax deadline.  You have three extra days this year to file your 2016 taxes because April 15, 2017 falls on a Saturday and Emancipation Day is observed in Washington DC on Monday, April 17, 2017.

 

The base tax center will offer free tax services to E-6 and below, O2 and below, retired members 65 and older, deployers, surviving spouses as well as their ID carrying family members. Retired National Guard and reservist 65 and older.  Tax assistance is also provided to National Guard and reserve personnel in ranks listed above who are on active-duty orders or members who have been released from active duty or ordered to active duty for more than 30 days issued under mobilization authority.

 

Due to changes in the software that we will be using we will have no access to prior tax year information. You must bring your 2015 federal and state tax returns with you for your appointment. We will no longer prepare returns with rentals, small businesses, and K-1’s Form 1065 and Form 1120S.

 

For the 2016 tax season we processed over 4,000 individual federal and state returns, saving clients approximately $846,499.00 in tax preparation fees and placing $5.1 million back into the pockets of the military community through refunds.

 

The volunteer income tax advisors at the base tax center in the staff judge advocate’s office are trained volunteers who assist with e-filing taxes accurately.

 

Using the e-file method, taxes are filed online, saving time. The Internal Revenue Service then verifies the return was received and the taxpayer has their refund within seven to twenty-one days. Due to the PATH Act the IRS will hold any return with a refund that has a refundable credit, (Additional Child Tax Credit, American Opportunity Credit, and Earned Income Credit), until February 15 before releasing any of the refund.

 

The tax center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for appointments. There will be no walk-in assistance.

 

To prevent fraud the tax center is required to verify the identity of the taxpayer and spouse by photo ID, prior to beginning the return. The tax center is also, required to see Social Security cards for everyone on the return. If you do not have a Social Security card, you will need to request a replacement card by completing Form SS-5, going to the local Social Security Office or on-line.

 

The tax center will open Jan 30.  The tax center is located in the Offutt Law Center in the basement, 711 Nelson Drive.

 

To make an appointment with the base tax center, call 294-3759 beginning Jan. 17.