The 2010 Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Tax Center Award ceremony took place April 29 inside of the Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Headquarters Bldg. 59 conference room where tax center volunteers were awarded for their efforts during the season.
Capt. Jacquin Gilchrist, a legal assistance attorney, Military District of Washington, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate and supervisor of the tax center, Staff Sgt. Carrie Cole and Sgt. Cassandra Gilliard, Headquarters USA, Sgt. Christopher Cobb, 289th Military Police Company, Spc. Christopher Friddle and Pfc. Douglas Jones, HHC 1/3, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), and Pfc. Dustin Merritt, A Co., 4/3, The Old Guard and Pvt. Benjamin Sheldon, HHC 4/3, The Old Guard, received the Army Achievement Medal for their volunteer service at the tax center.
Aca,!A"The Army Volunteer Tax Assistance Program is kind of an amazing critter when you think about it, and take a look at what it really is,Aca,!A? said Col. Mark Rivest, the Military District of Washington staff judge advocate.
This year Soldiers went through an intensive week of Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Assistance training where they were required to pass an eight-hour exam to become certified. Aca,!A"It is a commanders program, but itAca,!a,,cs basically un-resourced and you build it from year to year,Aca,!A? Rivest said. Aca,!A"You send the Soldiers to IRS training, toss the United States code at them and say, Aca,!EoeIf you have any questions just ask.Aca,!a,,c And, itAca,!a,,cs supposed to work, and it does,Aca,!A? he said. Aca,!A"ItAca,!a,,cs really amazing.Aca,!A?
Aca,!A"What the JAG office does is basically ask, Aca,!Eoegive me your smartest, most detail oriented, most diligent people and letAca,!a,,cs borrow them for five or six months,Aca,!A? Rivest said.
Aca,!A"This year we did about 1,600 returns and the big difference it makes around dinner tables in the community is we ended up saving Soldiers and their Families about $338,000 in tax preparation costs,Aca,!A? Rivest said. Aca,!A"More importantly we brought in for Soldiers and their Families about $2.3 million worth of refunds.Aca,!A? Aca,!A"Contrary to popular belief the lawyers donAca,!a,,ct get a third,Aca,!A? Rivest said jokingly. Rivest thanked Col. Carl R. Coffman Jr., JBM-HH commander for providing a tax over-hire and The Old Guard and the Headquarters Battalion for their Soldiers. Aca,!A"These folks have done a superb job for the community,Aca,!A? he said.
The center prepared federal and state tax returns until May 7 for members of the armed forces on active duty, military retirees and their Families Monday through Friday. Coffman also thanked the volunteers for all of their hard work. Aca,!A"This is Soldiers taking care of Soldiers,Aca,!A? Coffman said. Aca,!A"We have Marines taking care of Marines. We also had Soldiers taking care of Marines, and Marines taking care of Soldiers.
It was truly a joint base effort to get the tax centerAca,!a,,cs customers taken care of.Aca,!A? Aca,!A"Between the two tax centers it was right about at $5 million in return money coming back here to Soldiers and Marines at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall,Aca,!A? Coffman said. Aca,!A"ItAca,!a,,cs a great program, and all we have to provide at this installation is the manpower and a place for them to go. We really appreciate all of the hard work you have done.Aca,!A?
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