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Tax assistance office opens Tuesday

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  • By Volunteer Income Tax Assistance office
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  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 services for active duty military members, their dependents and retirees by appointment. However, the VITA program is limited to those who meet the following requirements: must have had minimum essential health care coverage (such as any form of TRICARE) for the entire tax year, an adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less, E-6 or below, O-3 or below and Reservists on Title 10 orders.

The VITA program, organized by the base legal office, will be open from Feb. 2 through April 15.  The VITA office is located in Bldg. 1, Door 3 on the west side of the building. There will be signs guiding visitors to the office. The office is open from 7:30 to 11 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (excluding federal holidays). Appointments can be scheduled by calling 739-7754 starting on Tuesday.   
 
The tax office can prepare Oklahoma state returns in addition to the following federal forms: 1040-EZ, 1040A, Earned Income Credit, Form 8863 (Education Credits), Form 8812 (Additional Child Tax Credit) and Form 1040 with Schedule A, Itemized Deductions. 

1040-EZ filers will be served on a walk-in basis; however, filers with an appointment will have priority over walk-ins. If e-filing a joint return, both the taxpayer and the spouse will need to come into the tax office to sign the e-file documents unless the filer has a Power of Attorney that specifically references taxes. POAs may be obtained at the legal office.

The tax office is not able to prepare Schedule D for those individuals with stock sales and Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ for those taxpayers with business income or with Forms 1099MISC. Additionally, taxpayers with home businesses (such as Pampered Chef, Tupperware, etc.) and taxpayers who own rental property will need to seek help from other providers.

In order to receive prompt and immediate service, all taxpayers must bring the following items with them: military ID, Social Security cards and birth dates of taxpayers and dependents, all W-2s, 1099s, investment income paperwork, POAs (if applicable), names, addresses and EIN or SSN of day care providers (if applicable) and last year's income tax return. Some taxpayers may need to bring additional items, depending on their tax situation.

Due to changes in tax forms, taxpayers claiming educational expenses will need to bring the 1099-T with them to have their returns completed. Taxpayers claiming an education credit for undergraduate school should also bring proof of the amount paid for books. Taxpayers wishing to direct deposit their refund should bring a voided check with them to their appointments. Noncustodial parents claiming a child as a dependent will need to bring a signed Form 8332 or a Divorce Decree giving them the exemption for that dependent for divorces prior to 2009. Taxpayers who own their own homes should also bring the 1098 form showing the amount of real estate tax and mortgage interest that they paid during 2015.