FORT SILL, Okla. Jan. 28, 2016 -- The Fort Sill Installation Tax Assistance Center (ITAC) opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony Jan. 25.
Maj. Gen. John Rossi, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general; Sheila Olsen, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) coordinator; and Sgt. 1st Class Cynthia Perrier, ITAC noncommissioned officer in charge, cut the ribbon to open the center, which is run by the Legal Assistance Division. Rossi said he has used ITACs at numerous installations because ITAC volunteers know how to do taxes right.
The ITAC saves money for Soldiers and family members in preparation fees, as well as time, which keeps the force ready, the general said. Also the Soldiers, who are doing the returns have gained a valuable skill.
New this year are extended hours. Active-duty service members, family members, military retirees and National Guard and Reserve service members who are on Title 10 orders are eligible to use the service.
The ITAC schedules appointments, and it takes walk-in clients on a first-come, first-served basis. It also offers a drop-service for single Soldiers and families with simple returns, who come in and provide a military ID and their W-2 form, and within 48 hours they will receive a call to come back and sign their return. Drop-off service is available through April 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Fort Sill ITAC works closely with the Lawton IRS office and the Oklahoma Tax Commission, Olsen said. If a military member, family member or military retiree receives a letter from the IRS or tax commission, the ITAC can assist them to remedy the situation.
Although this year's tax deadline is April 18, the ITAC will only be open through April 15, to finish and submit returns by the deadline, Olsen said.
Seventeen volunteer Soldiers, three civilian volunteers and three permanent Legal Assistance paralegals are preparing returns.
They have completed 65 hours of VITA tax training, and are IRS-certified on basic, advanced and military returns, Olsen said.
Happy returns
Last year, the Fort Sill ITAC staff prepared almost 6,000 combined state and federal returns, Olsen said. The total tax refunds for the clients was more than $10 million, and they saved them about $1 million in preparation fees if they had used outside tax services.
What to bring
-- Military ID Card (for both if joint return).
-- Social Security Cards for everyone listed on the return.
-- Driver's license.
-- All documents showing income received and/or taxes paid, i.e., W-2, 1099R, 1099INT, 1099MISC, 1099G).
-- Accurate amounts or receipts for all that apply to you: child and dependent care, tuition/book expenses, student loan interest, moving expenses, educator expenses, charitable contributions, significant medical expenses, contributions to an IRA/retirement account, and mortgage interest/real estate taxes (Form 1098).
-- Last year's return.
-- Proof of bank account and routing number (cancelled check, last year's return).
-- If purchased a new home signed HUD-1, orders if purchased with extension for deployed Soldiers.
-- Verification of health care, Form 1095-A, 1095-B or 1095-C.
If you are married and/or have dependents bring:
-- Power of attorney if filing married filing joint and spouse will not be present to sign.
-- Social Security Card and SSN and date of birth of all dependents
-- If married filing separate, must have spouse's SSN to E-file.
Hours
-- Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-in service signed in by 5 p.m. will be seen the same day.
-- Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Walk-in service must sign in by 5:30 p.m.
-- Appointments will be available each day.
The ITAC is open Saturdays through March 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Walk-in service signed in by 1 p.m. will be seen. Saturday appointments will be available at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. only.
The ITAC is closed President's Day Feb. 15 (Monday), however, it is open on training holidays.
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