An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Deployed members help each other during tax season

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Veronica McMahon
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Tax season is here and the base offers avenues to help members with tax questions and returns.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance representatives are available to all personnel for filing assistance prior to Tax Day, April 15, and can offer information regarding extensions, deferments and special tax rules for military members.

"The trained volunteers here on base went through a compressed course on how to prepare federal income taxes," said Tony Bonilla, 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron cable television and VITA base coordinator. "The individuals were trained by an Air Force tax volunteer and have become Internal Revenue Service-certified."

There is not a designated tax center here, so for an appointment personnel must contact their VITA representative to schedule a time, date and place. Most representatives will be operating from their work places.

Representatives on base are not just working for the unit, and are able to help military members from other organizations.

"I have been doing this since high school and wanted to help make this process easier for people," said Staff Sgt. Whittney Scott, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron emergency manager and unit VITA representative. "It alleviates another thing that may add stress while they are deployed."

The VITA program has existed at this desert base for four years and has begun to spread out to other bases. This year individuals from Kandahar Airfield, Joint Base Balad and Bagram Air Base, attended the training here as well and began the program at their deployed locations.

"So far the volunteers have done very well. Without them the program wouldn't exist," said Mr. Bonilla. "This gives them a chance to help fellow military members. The program last year saved $32,000 in tax preparation fees and completed 322 tax returns."
"The reason I do this is because I do like to help," said Capt. Bernadette Garrett, 379th Expeditionary Operations Group flight commander and unit VITA representative. "This has given me a chance to learn a lot more about taxes."

'Tax Day' is April 15, but for deployed members in a combat zone the deadline is extended until June 15. Military members can also request more time, if needed, with an extension form 4868.

For more information on the VITA program, contact the Mr. Bonilla at 437-2770.