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Tinker’s Volunteer Tax Assistance Office opens next week

  • Published
  • By Cammy Drebes
  • 72nd Air Base Wing Judge Advocate 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, organized by the base legal office, will be open Feb. 4 through April 15.

The VITA program provides tax preparation and electronic filing services for active-duty military and reservists with pay grades E1-E6 and O1-O3 (reservists must be on Title X orders), their dependents, and retirees by appointment. Only those with an Adjusted Gross Income of less than $80,000 are eligible for service, regardless of their rank. In addition, 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.

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); and Form 8812 (Additional Child Tax Credit) and Form 1040 with Schedule A, Itemized Deductions. They will no longer complete Schedule D for those individuals with stock sales.

Unfortunately, the tax office cannot prepare Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ for those taxpayers with business income or with Forms 1099MISC. Taxpayers with home businesses such as Pampered Chef, Tupperware, etc., will also need to seek help from other providers. The tax office is no longer preparing tax returns for those taxpayers that own rental property.

In order to receive prompt and immediate service, bring the following items with you: military ID, social security cards and birth dates of taxpayers and dependents, W-2s, 1099s, investment income paperwork, powers of attorney (if applicable), names, addresses and EIN or SSN of day care providers (if applicable); and last year's income tax return. Due to changes in tax forms those taxpayers that are claiming educational expenses will need to bring 1099-T with them to have their return completed. Those taxpayers claiming an education credit for undergraduate school should also bring the amount they paid for books. Those taxpayers wishing to direct deposit their refund should bring a voided check with them to their appointment. Noncustodial parents claiming a child as a dependent will need to bring a signed Form 8332 or for divorces prior to 2009 a Divorce Decree giving them the exemption for that dependent. Taxpayers claiming a deduction for their home should also bring the amount they paid in real estate tax with them.

The VITA office is open from 7:30 to 11 a.m. and noon to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday.

The tax office is located in Bldg. 1. Enter Door B on the south side of the building and follow the signs to the Area Defense Counsel's office. The tax office is next door to the ADC office. Although the tax office is in the same location as last year, the normal entrance, Door 3, is closed due to construction. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 739-7754.