Tax deadline rapidly approaching

  • Published
  • By Capt. Shane McCammon
  • 39th Air base Wing assistant staff judge advocate
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Like death and taxes, the inevitable will occur April 15 when Military One Source stops offering its free tax preparation and e-filing program for the 2007 tax year. 

While the cutoff date coincides with the Internal Revenue Service's filing deadline - a deadline that does not apply to Incirlik Airmen and civilians, the 39th Air Base Wing Judge Advocate office recommends Incirlik members file their taxes within the next week. Doing so allows Airmen and civilians to use Military One Source's free program, which the Incirlik Volunteer Income Tax Assistants know inside and out. Also, because the economic stimulus payment is tied to the information provided in member's tax returns, it is imperative they file by April 15. 

If members are unable to file their returns by April 15, they should not worry as being stationed overseas they qualify for an automatic two-month extension. To obtain this automatic extension, members can attach a statement to their tax return indicating they are a servicemember on an assigned tour of duty outside the United States. In this statement, they should list the date they arrived at Incirlik and expected departure date. They do not need to file the IRS Form 4868 to qualify for the two-month extension. However, if they owe the U.S. Government money they will be charged interest until the date the tax is paid. 

Members who recently deployed qualify for more extensions and are advised to contact the 39 ABW/JA for a breakdown of their particular deployment-related extension. 

The IRS-certified VITAs will continue to offer tax assistance at the Airman and Family Readiness Center through April 30 and will be on hand Monday through Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. For shift workers, VITAs offer assistance at the AFRC Tuesdays from 8 to 10 a.m. and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. And, while Military One Source will not provide its service after April 15, there are other free tax preparation and e-filing programs for Incirlik members that will be available at least until the end of June, including TaxSlayer.com which may be accessed at www.taxslayer.com/military. 

For additional information, please contact the 39 ABW/JA staff at 676-6800.