’Tis the Season to Give and Receive Tax Assistance

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Shane McCammon
  • Assistant Judge Advocate
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  While the bells are jingling, the chestnuts are roasting, and the Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, it can only mean one thing -- income tax season is right around the corner.

Knowing that people cherish tax time about as much as a stocking full of coal, the 39th Air Base Wing legal office and Airmen and Family Readiness Center again will be offering free tax help to Team Incirlik as a holiday gift. Unlike in the past, this year's gift will keep on giving long after the jolly IRS agent leaves that refund check in your stocking.

Tying in with the AFRC's goal of instilling self-sufficiency is this year's tax assistance program, which will focus on 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.

"We're trying to help people help themselves," said Janet Morrison, AFRC's flight chief. "Teaching people how to solve problems on their own makes them feel confident and helps them lead more successful lives."

Of course, the thought of having to complete 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 DoD civilians will have free access to easy-to-use tax preparation software, such as Turbo Tax or its equivalent. While this year's tax assistance program allows you to file your return from home via MilitaryOneSource.com, the AFRC has generously agreed to 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 that may arise. In addition, MilitaryOneSource.com will provide round-the-clock assistance. For questions that cannot be answered by either the volunteers or MilitaryOneSource.com consultants, the legal office will be available by appointment.

Besides helping Team Incirlik electronically file their tax returns, the tax assistance program is a tremendous opportunity for volunteers to receive valuable training from the IRS and marketable job experience. An IRS agent will be here during the week of Jan. 22 to train volunteer income tax assistants on the science of preparing income taxes. Once the free training is complete and the tax assistance program kicks off at the end of January, VITAs will staff the AFRC from 5 to 7 p.m. each weekday evening. In addition, VITAs will be needed at least once a week to accommodate Airmen who work swing shifts. If you are interested in becoming a VITA, call Staff Sgt. Kassandra Tindal or 1st Lt. Shane McCammon at 676-6800.

"This has great potential for the whole community to pull together," Ms. Morrison said.

So as you hang stockings and wrap presents, just remember--tax season may be around the corner, but with the help of the tax assistance program you won't need to drown your accounting worries in all of that holiday cheer.