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Tax season is coming to the AOR

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Cassandra Gaymon
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing legal office
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  It's tax season again, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing legal office is here to help. 

Form W-2s are now available on www.MyPay.com, and although service members serving in a combat zone have an automatic 180-day filing extension past April 15th, many personnel will want to file sooner to get their returns as quickly as possible. 

This year, people deployed here will have two options for filing their tax returns. The tax center, located in the legal office courtroom, Building 3893, will be staffed with Internal Revenue Service-trained volunteers and will be able to file returns electronically so that members can get their returns more quickly. Additionally, servicemembers can log on to the Department of Defense Military One Source Web site, www.militaryonesource.com, and file their own taxes online. 

Base Tax Center
The tax center will be open for the 2007 tax season seven days a week, starting Feb. 11 through April 15. Hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to noon; and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Services will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis for 1040 EZ Forms and by appointment for other 1040 returns. 

Participants will need the following:
-W-2 (wage and tax statement from all employers)
-Form 1099 for interest, dividends, miscellaneous income, retirement income, etc.
-Social security cards of taxpayer, spouse and dependent children (photocopies are OK)
-Legal documents (separation agreements, divorce decrees that state you are entitled to claim
said dependant, and powers of attorney are needed if someone will be signing the return in place of a spouse, a general power of attorney is acceptable if you don't have a specific one for tax filing).
-Bank account number and bank routing number for electronic filing. A copy of a voided check
is sufficient. An ATM card or check card isn't sufficient to verify the routing number.
-Childcare provider's name, addresses, and tax identification number (or social security number) and payment receipts for those planning to claim the child and dependent care credit.
-Form 1098 for college expenses and mortgage interest paid.
-Last year's tax return or any other documentation that could be helpful 

The Federal and state taxes are prepared and e-filed simultaneously at the Tax Center; state-only returns will not be filed. Due to recent changes in Air Force policy regarding the software used in base tax centers, the tax center does not have access to information filed in previous years. Returns that include Schedule C (profit or loss from business), Schedule E (rents and losses), or are overly complicated cannot be prepared by tax center volunteers. Hard copies of the 2007 tax forms are not available. 

Filing with Military One Source
Alternately, a number of popular tax filing programs are available through Military One Source free to active-duty members, their dependents, and DoD civilians. Some account for income earned from rental property and childcare-expenses credit (even if provider is tax exempt), and prepare both state and federal returns. The program informs members of the documents they need before beginning their return, and information is entered in a step-by-step format where it is stored for later retrieval or modification before filing. Math calculations are done automatically, which helps prevent errors, and audit flags are automatic. Other programs offer a 100 percent accuracy guarantee and online status updates. If the military member, his dependent(s), or a DoD employee is audited by IRS, tax consultants will prepare taxpayers for audit meetings free of charge. Finally, certified public accountants with tax experience offer support to anyone who calls Military One Source at (800) 342-9647. 

The tax center here will have two computers available for members to log onto Military One Source to file their returns. Volunteers will also be able to assist with any questions the member may have using this option. For more information, call the tax center at 473-2707.