Tax Assistance

There are only 7 days left to file your taxes! As the tax deadline approaches, you may be searching for tax documents you haven’t seen since last year, but do not fret you can still set up an appointment with you installation’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA). As you read this month’s blog, ACS will provide you with Military specific tax information and pertinent info on how to prepare for your tax filing appointment.

Structured to specifically tackle Military Tax issues, the Volunteer Tax Assistance Program was formed by IRS and the US Armed Forces. The VITA provides free tax advice, tax preparation, return filing and other tax assistance to military members and their families.1 VITA locations can be found on your assigned Garrison. For Fort Myer’s VITA contact info, read the following:

Volunteer Tax Assistance Program
Fort Myer, Virginia 22211
Phone: (703)-696-1040
Hours of Operation: Mon.-Wed. (8:30AM-4:30PM), Tues.-Thurs. (8:30AM-7:00PM), Fri. (8:30AM-1:00PM)
To search for the nearest VITA location, visit http://legalassistance.law.af.mil/content/locator.php.

When it comes to choosing a tax preparer, your garrison’s skilled VITA specialist is the ideal choice. A VITA specialist provides knowledge on tax breaks for Military personnel and Family covered by the Military Family Tax Relief Act. Signed into law in 2003, this Act provides tax breaks such as such death benefits, sale of principal residence, deduction for overnight travel expenses of National Guard and Reserve Members, combat zone extensions expanded to contingency operations, dependent assist care programs, and Military academy attendees. To learn more about the Military Family Tax Relief act and the included tax break provisions, visit http://www.irs.gov/uac/Highlights:--Military-Family-Tax-Relief-Act.

April 15th is the official tax filing deadline. After you have secured your appointment, you may be wondering out of all your documents you have at home, which ones do you need to take to your tax preparer? Read below to find out which documents are appropriate to bring to your VITA visit:
• Photo identification
• Social Security cards for the taxpayer, his or her spouse, and dependents, if applicable
• Birth dates for primary and secondary earners and dependents on the tax return
• Current year's tax package, if they received one
• Wage and earning statements (W-2, W-2G, and 1099-R forms) from all employers
• Interest and dividend statements from banks (1099 forms)
• A copy of last year's federal and state returns if available
• Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit
• Other relevant information about income and expenses (total amount paid for day care, day care provider identifying number [tax ID or Social Security number]
• To file taxes electronically on a married filing jointly tax return, both spouses must be present to sign the required forms.

Every year, the IRS provides a “Dirty Dozen List”, which incorporates 12 tax scams that permeate tax season. It is important that you educate yourself about the current scams and avoid them at all cost. Tax payers who participate in illegal tax scams can end up facing significant penalties and interest and even criminal prosecution . Read the list below and protect yourself from these vicious scams:
1. Identity Theft
2. Pervasive Telephone Scams
3. Phishing
4. False Promises of “Free Money” from Inflated Refunds
5. Return Preparer Fraud

To find out the rest of the “Dirty Dozen List”, visit http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-Releases-the-%E2%80%9CDirty-Dozen%E2%80%9D-Tax-Scams-for-2014;-Identity-Theft,-Phone-Scams-Lead-List .

For more information Military specific tax implications, visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3.pdf.

Did you visit your local VITA? We would love to hear about your experience! Share your thoughts with ACS!