Completing and filing tax forms can be painless, simple and free for those who visit the Tinker Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Office. The VITA program provides tax preparation and electronic filing for active duty military and retirees, as well as their dependents, by appointment. This year there will be a limit on adjusted gross income of less than $175,000. We will be limiting services to those who have simple schedules with some restrictions. The tax office will only prepare resident Oklahoma state returns.
The Tinker Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Office program is organized by the base legal office. It will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays from Feb. 6-April 10 and will be closed on all federal holidays. The VITA office is located in Bldg. 1, Door 3, on the west side of the building. There are signs guiding visitors to the office. Appointments can be scheduled by calling
739-7754.
There are many tax changes this year due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. A few of those changes are as follows: The tax brackets have changed; the standard deduction has increased for all filers; and the 1040-EZ and 1040-A forms are obsolete.
Rentals. Limited to only one property. Must provide depreciation worksheet from the prior year and/or a copy of your prior year tax return (regardless of where it was filed). A list of expenses is required. If it is a first-year rental, the filer must know the value of the house minus the value of the land that the house is occupying (this can usually be found on the tax assessor tax bill).
Privately Owned Business. Includes daycares, Avon, Pampered Chef, etc. Must not have expenses in excess of $5,000, cannot have an inventory to claim and cannot claim a loss. We will not have a drop-off program this year due to the number of volunteer preparers.
Stock Sales. Filers must have a 1099-B form and must have a cost
basis for each stock sold.
None of the following will be prepared: Farm Income; Uber, Lyft or Airbnb; no foreign taxes; excluded foreign-earned income; income reported on a Schedule K-1 form; mineral royalties other than oil and gas; and non-Oklahoma state returns.
Like in previous years, taxpayers should bring the following items to their appointments:
● Department of Defense identification cards.
● Social Security cards for all individuals listed on the tax return or a photocopy.
● W2, 1099-R, 1099-INT, 1099-MISC, 1099-G income documents.
● Healthcare verification IRS Form 1095-B or -C.
● Last year’s tax return.
● Bank account routing and account numbers for direct deposit/debit.
● Receipts for those who moved; child and dependent care expenses; college tuition and fees or form 1098-T; mortgage interest form 1098; property taxes, charitable contributions, medical expenses paid by the filer; educator expenses and financial documents showing contributions for an IRA (this is not TSP contribution from Mypay).
● If filing a joint return, both taxpayers must be present or must have a power of attorney for the absent spouse (a POA can be obtained at the base legal office, Bldg. 1002).
● Custodial parents wishing to claim dependent care or educational credits must bring in the appropriate documentation, such as a statement of service from the childcare provider which contains the EIN or SSN of the provider, a 1098-T form from the educational institution and a bursar statement showing payments and charges made to the school. Noncustodial parents claiming a child will need to bring a signed Form 8332 or a Pre-2009 Divorce Decree, giving them the personal exemption for that dependent.
Additionally, a legal representative filing on behalf of an eligible service member may file on the decedent’s behalf with a power of attorney or copy of death certificate. For more information, call 580-442-6445.
We will also have a Military OneSource station where DOD ID card holders can complete their returns on a walk-in basis, by themselves. Should they need assistance, they can ask one of our volunteers in the VITA office. This is one station used by the taxpayer only and the wait times may be long, so plan accordingly.
Another resource, www.irs.gov may offer a free file service. From the home page, select File, then Individual, then How to File to get to the Free File link.