The end of 2013 tax season is nearing and community members are encouraged to file before it's too late, said officials in the Fort Belvoir Office of the Staff Judge Advocate Tax Center.
The deadline to file federal and many state taxes is April 15. Virginia's filing deadline is May 1.
The Tax Center, which provides free filing services on space-available assistance to active-duty servicemembers, retirees and their dependents, urges military members to set-up an appointment as soon as possible if they haven't submitted tax information and require assistance.
Christa Lacy, Tax Center site coordinator, said the center is nearly full with scheduled appointments throughout April.
If they can't make an appointment in time, military members can file an extension on federal and state deadlines at the Tax Center. The extension provides the Tax Center time to set-up an appointment, while the military member avoids missing the deadline. Lacy strongly encourages tax filers to contact the center as soon as possible to see if an extension is necessary. Internal Revenue Service trained and certified tax preparers will gladly help servicemembers and their Families file extensions and file their taxes.
"I'm very proud of my staff this year," Lacy said. "Even though it's a small group, they get the job done."
Community members also have the option of traveling to Marine Corps Base Quantico or Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, to complete the tax filing process. These installations can accommodate more people as they have more tax preparers on staff. Similar to Belvoir's center, Quantico and Myer-Henderson Hall offer free filing services on a space-available basis to active-duty servicemembers, retirees and their dependents.
"We never want to send people away but we just don't have enough personnel to accommodate everyone," Lacy said. "I encourage them to go to the other installations if they need to."
Belvoir military members should bring their social security card, military I.D. and any other important documentation, if they're traveling to Quantico or another military installation, said Marine Corps 1st Lt. Corey Squires, Marine Corps Base Quantico Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center assistant officer-in-charge.
"We welcome and appreciate all the work Soldiers do for this country," Squires said. "We'd love to have them here at Quantico."
For military members who choose to stay at Belvoir, the garrison's Tax Center will electronically prepare and file state and federal income tax returns. The center will also prepare tax returns for eligible clients who perform child care in the home, in accordance with Army Regulation 27-3, paragraph 3-8(a) (2), as long as the information can be accurately and completely reported on a Schedule C-EZ form. Last year, due to budget constraints and personnel shortages, services were limited to eligible active-duty officer and enlisted Soldiers and their Families who work or reside on post. The legal office has removed those restrictions for this year of services, Lacy said.
The tax center is unable to prepare the following types of returns:
• Individuals who present more than ten (10) stock or mutual fund sales;
• Tax returns for clients who have self-employment income; and
• Tax returns for clients who have income from more than one rental property.
Volunteers comprise the tax center's staff. Each member has received certified IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance military training. The training and tax program teaches the volunteers to find all tax credits due to eligible servicemembers and dependents.
"I got involved in this to help," said Linda Jelonek, Belvoir Tax Center preparer, who has filed taxes for Belvoir community members for two years. "A lot of people find taxes scary and daunting. I like knowing I'm making it easier for them."
Lacy recommends clients utilize Belvoir's Tax Center for federal and state taxes. Using the Tax Center for only one level will delay the return process.
The Tax Center is co-located with the Legal Assistance Office in Bldg. 257. Hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tax returns will be prepared mainly by appointment. The office will accommodate walk-in appointments on a case-by-case basis only.
Eligible clients can now request appointments through the Fort Belvoir Legal Assistance/Tax Center website. To get to the tax center information, go to www.belvoir.army.mil/sja/newsite, then click on Legal Assistance, then click on the tax center button, or request a legal assistance appointment by calling (703) 805-2856.
Contact information for Tax Center's at other installations are: Marine Corps Base Quantico tax center (703) 784-3976, Henderson Hall tax center (703) 693-7001 and Fort Meyer tax center (703) 696-1040.
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