Tax Center to open Feb. 1

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Means
  • 49th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Filing federal income taxes can be intimidating, but just like in the past, volunteers from the Holloman community will be assisting Airmen and their families in filing this year.

The Holloman Tax Center is open to all active duty military members, dependents and retirees and is scheduled to open for business on Feb. 1 through April 15, Monday through Friday, from 9 a. m. to 3 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling 575-572-1040.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistant will need copies of the following at the appointment: social security numbers for the taxpayer, spouse and all dependents; both spouses present, or IRS Form 2848; bank routing and account numbers if a direct deposit return is desired; childcare and daycare expenses as well as the name, address and social security number of the childcare provider; W-2 forms from each employer -- active duty members may obtain this from myPay; all 1099's; interest and dividend statements; and proof of any other income; last year's income1098, if applicable; IRA info - even ROTH; sales tax on a new vehicle purchase, if applicable; and expenses.

Providing a tax center on base is not a mandatory program but is common at many military installations. Like many installations, our commander supports this program here for all military personnel, their dependents and retirees, according to Capt. Dean Korsak, 49th Fighter Wing legal Office.

"The purpose of the Tax Center is to increase readiness and morale by assisting military personnel and their dependents with filing federal and state income taxes," said Captain Korsak. "Many military members have military specific tax provisions that apply to them, such as the deployment tax exemption, issues relating to residency and domicile and casualty tax issues. We can efficiently respond to all of the military specific needs that commercial tax providers may not be fully familiar with."

The Tax Center is manned by volunteers familiar with military related issues who have completed Internal Revenue Service-approved training and are certified as a VITA. Every VITA has IRS information readily available for customers on topics such as deductions, the Earned Income Credit and the Additional Child Credit.

"The preparers we train will be IRS Certified VITA/TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) volunteer preparers," said Captain Korsak, 49 FW. "This means they are capable of responding to routine tax issues under the VITA program and also for TCE. The TCE program is particularly helpful for many of our local military retirees, a service we are privileged to provide them."

The Tax Center will only prepare jointly filed returns for deployed members' spouses if they can produce a power of attorney or IRS form 2848. Also, business owners should note that the VITAs will not prepare Schedule C or C-EZ. More information can be found on the official IRS website.

According to the Tax Center records, last year the tax center facilitated the filing of 2,065 tax returns, resulting in more than $1,719,000 in refunds, saving clients more than $176,000 in preparation fees.

To schedule an appointment, volunteer as a VITA or for more information contact the Tax Center at 575-572-1040.