VICENZA, Italy -- Tax season is right around the corner: The U.S. Army Garrison Italy Tax Center will be celebrating its grand opening in early February.
The tax center provides free tax preparation and e-filing services for eligible members of the military community, including active-duty service members, military retirees receiving pay and benefits, Department of Defense civilian employees, and authorized dependents. Wage and earning statements (W-2s) are available for Soldiers and civilians via MyPay at www.mypay.dfas.mil and were released Jan. 21.
Last year, the Vicenza Tax Center assisted nearly 2,000 tax filers, saving military community members more than $700,000 in tax preparation fees and generating over $5.62 million in refunds. This year, there are many changes to the USAG Italy Tax Center.
First and foremost, the center will provide tax assistance services from a brand new central location, Building 166, the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate. Second, we will be using an all-new tax preparation software called TaxSlayer. These two changes will enable tax preparers to better serve our customers.
Other changes
Several other changes impact the scope of services the center can provide. First, because of changes with Internal Revenue Service requirements for Certifying Acceptance Agents, the tax center is no longer able to certify documents for individuals applying to obtain Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITINs). We remain available to answer questions regarding the ITIN application process.
Second, Armywide budget restrictions limit tax center availability.
The center will be open from Jan. 30 to May 5, where normally, overseas tax centers remain open through mid-June. Because of the abbreviated term, the Vicenza Tax Center is open for simple returns on a walk-in basis only during the first three weeks. Staff will be available to make appointments starting Feb. 20.
Third, the focus will be in assisting clients in the preparation of 2016 returns; therefore, tax personnel will likely be unable to assist you in preparing any amendments or previous years' returns.
Finally, because the IRS awarded a new tax preparation software contract to TaxSlayer beginning with the 2017 tax filing season, the preparer's access to previous returns may be limited. Accordingly, all taxpayers must have copies of last year's tax returns in order to be serviced here.
Deadlines
Filing deadline for tax year 2016 is April 18, 2017. However, overseas filers receive an automatic filing extension until June 15. It is important to note that the extension to file is NOT an "extension to pay." In other words, if you plan on filing taxes on your own and owe money to the IRS, you should file your tax return and pay any balance due by April 18. Those who are entitled to a refund, or do not owe anything, may file by June 15.
Also, in order to prevent fraud, the IRS will not release any income tax refund until after Feb. 15 for taxpayers who claim an Earned Income Credit on 2016 federal income tax returns. Taxpayers may still file income tax returns claiming EIC any time on or after Jan. 23, 2015, but they will be required to wait until after Feb. 15, 2017, for any tax refund.
Don't wait. The Vicenza Tax Center opens Monday and will be Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (and open through lunch). The Del Din Tax Center is located in the Sigholtz Center, Room 1005, and is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m.
Simple, complex
"Simple" tax returns, which generally consist of W2s, interest/dividend income, and only one state return, will be prepared on a walk-in basis. "Complex" tax returns, which generally consist of those with sale of stocks, itemized deductions, rental income, multi-state returns, foreign income exclusion, and other returns requiring specialized attention, will require appointments.
Tax center staff will be unable to prepare income tax returns if you owned more than two rental properties, performed more than 10 stock trades in the year, or are reporting the sale of business property, farm income or household employees (Nanny tax returns).
Documents
Preparing tax returns requires a lot of documents. Customers should prepared with the following: Military ID card; W2s; 1099 and 1098 forms; Social Security Cards for person filing, spouse and all dependents (or a way to prove Social Security numbers); Copies of 2015 returns, if available; Bank account information with routing and account numbers; Power of Attorney (if married filing jointly and spouse is not present); and identity theft PIN if the IRS assigned one to you, your spouse, or any of your dependents.
Special situations arise that require additional documentation to complete and file. For example, if a person is married, and the spouse is not a U.S. citizen or legal resident, the spouse must have an ITIN. Those planning to claim dependency exemption for a child for whom they are not the primary custodial parent must have a signed written declaration (form 8331) from the custodial parent releasing his or her claim to the exemption, or a divorce decree or court document stating as such.
U.S. citizens working overseas for the United States government are still legal residents of one of the 50 states or U.S. territories. Tax center personnel can assist with questions about residency. Unless you are a resident of a state that does not require you to file an income tax return, or does not have income tax at all, you will be required to file a return based on residency. The centers can help you prepare and file state income tax returns.
For questions, to schedule an appointment, or for more information, DSN 637-8838, comm. 0444-61-8838.
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