CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea --Tax season is here again and for members of the community who need help with their State and Federal returns, the Humphreys Tax Center is the answer.
The center provides free tax advice and preparation, return filing, and other tax assistance to Soldiers and their dependents, DoD Civilians and their dependents and Retirees and their dependents. The center is staffed with military Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) certified preparers.
VITA tax specialists are trained and equipped to address military-specific tax issues. All certified preparers have completed an 80-hour Pacific Rim Tax Course conducted by the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School and the IRS VITA Training Course.
The IRS course requires a minimum 100 error free practice returns completed during the online portion. All of this training can be used toward promotion.
In keeping pace with the growing installation the staff at the center has increased from 15 Soldiers last year to 20 this year.
This should be good news for those community members who want help filing their taxes.
For those individuals, it is important to know what to bring. Most important is a copy of last year's return, all W-2's, 1099's, student loan paper work and financial paper work related to income-generating accounts or investments.
According to 1st Lt. Michele Ramsel, Tax Center officer in charge, if someone plans to itemize their taxes, receipts are essential.
"If you plan to itemize, we need receipts. Any charitable donations. Any business expenses. We got to have receipts. Our preparers are not going to take people at their word," Ramsel said.
Ramsel also recommends that those who have complicated returns with multiple investment accounts or rental property, should make an appointment with a preparer qualified to handle complex returns. To make an appointment, call 753-5680.
When it comes to the new requirements for the Affordable Care Act, Soldiers don't have to worry about any additional paper work, TRICARE qualifies. Everyone else not covered under TRICARE will need to bring in proof of health insurance.
The Tax Center opened Wednesday, Jan. 20 and is on the first floor of the Legal Assistance Center in Bldg. 578 (across the street from the Child Development Center). The hours are: Monday thru Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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