Tinker needs volunteers to sign up for VITA program Published Dec. 3, 2007 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Tinker wants you ... to help with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. As of Nov. 19, only 20 base personnel had signed up to volunteer their time advising others during the upcoming tax season. Tinker officials said an additional 70 volunteers and command-appointed helpers are needed to make the program a success. The deadline to sign up is Dec. 12. "Volunteer and command-appointed tax advisors are the backbone of the tax assistance program," John Over, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center executive director, wrote in a recent memo. There is no minimum rank or grade requirement to participate, yet, interested personnel should possess certain skills. A potential advisor should be good with numbers, and able to interpret regulations and instructions related to tax matters, Mr. Over wrote. A tax advisor should also uphold confidentiality and be genuinely interested in helping others. Cammy Drebes, VITA coordinator, said the ideal candidate will be "energetic, dedicated and professional." Interested applicants will be required to attend training courses including a tax law seminar, a tax software tutorial, and a filing class. VITA tax advisors will also be taught military rules for circumstances in dealing with non-residents. If interested, applicants must also commit to working a minimum of seven days during tax season. Training and tax season occurs between Feb. 1 and April 15. Last year, VITA saved the Tinker community more than $125,000 in preparation and electronic filing fees, Mr. Over wrote. "We've (always) had the program," Ms. Drebes said. "This is the first year we've only had 20 volunteers. "Without volunteers, there is no program." To commit to the program, interested personnel are required to fill out an application and have their supervisors sign off on it. For more information, call Ms. Drebes at 739-5811.