’Tis the Season to Give and Receive Tax Assistance

  • Published
  • By Capt. Shane McCammon, assistant staff judge advocate
  • 39th ABW/JA
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  When the bells are jingling, the chestnuts are roasting and Jack Frost starts nipping at your nose, it can only mean one thing--income tax season is right around the corner.

Knowing that most of you cherish tax time as much as a stocking full of coal, the 39th Air Base Wing Legal Office and Airman's and Family Readiness Center will once again offer free tax help to Team Incirlik.

Like last year's successful program, this year's gift will keep on giving long after the Internal Revenue Service agent leaves that refund check in your stocking.

This year's Tax Assistance Program ties in with the AFRC's goal of instilling self-sufficiency, by teaching Airmen and their families, civilians and other members of Team Incirlik how to file their federal income tax returns rather than simply doing it for them.

Of course, the thought of completing a federal income tax return can be harder to stomach than fruitcake--which is why the Legal Office and the AFRC will provide all the resources you'll need to make sure you don't end up on the IRS' naughty list.

Through MilitaryOneSource.com, all military members, their dependants, and Department of Defense civilians will have free access to easy-to-use tax preparation software, such as Turbo Tax, H&R Block TaxCut or its equivalent.

While this year's TAP once again allows you to file your return from home via MilitaryOneSource.com, the AFRC will dedicate its bank of computers and telephones to tax filers for use during the evenings. Computers will also be available during the day on a first-come first-served basis.

To ensure you're not left out in the cold, IRS-trained volunteers will be at the AFRC to answer questions. In addition, MilitaryOneSource.com plans to provide round-the-clock assistance. For questions that cannot be answered by either the volunteers or MilitaryOneSource's consultants, the legal office will be available by appointment.

Last year's program, also built around the resources available through MilitaryOneSource and the AFRC, was recognized as an Air Force Best Practice and dubbed Incirlik's Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century "poster child." Most importantly, the overwhelming majority of Incirlik taxpayers found the program very easy to use and more convenient than having to schedule an appointment to meet with a tax volunteer.

Besides helping Team Incirlik electronically file their tax returns, the TAP is a tremendous opportunity for volunteers to receive valuable training from the IRS and have marketable job experience. One of last year's volunteers was recently hired stateside by the IRS as a revenue officer.

Upon completing the online training, Volunteer Income Tax Assistants will staff the AFRC from 5 -7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, beginning in February. In addition, VITA will be available at least once a week to accommodate Airmen who work swing shifts. If you are interested in becoming a VITA, please call Tech. Sgt. Laurie Holman or Capt. Shane McCammon at 676-6800.