Tax season looms, volunteers needed

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  • By Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program

Over the years, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program has provided a valuable service to the Tinker Air Force Base community. Last year, this program saved the Tinker community more than $120,879 in preparation and electronic filing fees.

As the income tax season approaches, plans are underway for the Internal Revenue Service's annual VITA training seminars for tax preparers.

Volunteers from the community and command-appointed tax advisors are the backbone of the tax assistance program. A volunteer must exercise sensitivity and care concerning confidentiality. Volunteers must also have an inclination toward helping people. Additionally, the ideal volunteer possesses an aptitude for numbers and the ability to interpret regulations and instructions related to tax matters. This volunteer opportunity is open to Team Tinker, as well as retirees and their authorized dependents.

Each volunteer is required to attend a five-day tax course, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Jan. 13-17 at the Training and Education Building located at Bldg. 201 SE. It is imperative that volunteers attend class every day of their assigned seminars.

Once trained, each volunteer must provide a minimum of four hours per week for 11 weeks at the Tax Assistance office between Feb. 3 and April 14. Volunteers have scheduling flexibility and are given the opportunity to choose the dates that are convenient for them. In fact, many volunteer considerably more than the minimum requirement during tax season. Needless to say, the additional support is welcome.

If you are not interested in being a tax preparer but want to assist our office, consider signing up as a greeter. In this capacity, you will sign clients in, answer phones and schedule appointments.

If you are interested in volunteering, contact Kimberly Moses with the 72nd ABW/JA Workflow at 739-5811 or Kimberly.Moses@us.af.mil before Dec. 11. All interested volunteers will then be sent an application to return to the workflow email prior to Dec. 11.