Fort Huachuca, Arizona -- The Fort Huachuca Installation Tax Assistance Center opened its doors at 9 a.m. Jan. 23 at 9:00 a.m. in Building 22324 on Christy Avenue.
The ITAC assists active duty service members (including reserve component service members on active duty for more than 30 days), retirees and family members in electronic filing (e-filing) of their federal and state income taxes. The ITAC is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday on an appointment basis only.
Lt. Col Karen Riddle, deputy Staff Judge Advocate, announced the opening to a small audience gathered at the ITAC.
"This year we are hoping to double the number or at least do more than we did last year," Riddle said. "Last year we had more than 2,000 tax returns that were prepared. Which resulted in $2.5 million in tax refunds, and about $438,000 saved."
Col. Whit Wright, Fort Huachuca garrison commander, relayed a conversation he had with one of the tax center NCOs who "actually called the training 'fun'.
"That indicates to me that we've chosen and selected the right person to be down here," Wright said. "In [this Soldier's] own personal tax situation, the training that he received is going to help him save over $4,000 this year when he files his taxes. And again, I think that means that the employees down here have been trained appropriately, trained properly and they've been selected for their technical competence and their expertise."
The ribbon was cut and the doors were opened to waiting Soldiers wanting assistance with their tax returns.
"It was really simple and really fast," said Pfc. Sandy Salazar, Alpha Company, 2-13th Aviation Regiment, noting this was her second time using the tax service. Her words of advice to other Soldiers is to "call in early and make an appointment."
Angelina Medlin, an advanced individual training (AIT) student here, said this is her first time using the tax center. Medline said she found the tax center "welcoming." And that she's "not very savvy about doing her taxes" so she was relieved for the assistance. She found the process very helpful going through the preparation list with her tax preparer.
Capt. Grace Preston, officer in charge, ITAC, said her biggest challenge is that Fort Huachuca is "an intelligence community so most people here will do their own taxes." She said one advantage of using the tax center is that the process will take "30 minutes to an hour" versus spending all evening or a weekend to do taxes.
"[Customers] should plan for half an hour to an hour," Preston said. "If they have a very complex return with rental properties or multiple vehicles or homes that are owned, in addition to complex retirement plans, then they should allot a little bit longer. But if it's a Soldier who has a W-2 and nothing else, 30 minutes, not more than an hour. And it's free."
Preston said appointments can be made by calling 520.533.1040, like a 1040 EZ Form.
"We're going to try to be open a few Saturdays [from 8 a.m. to noon] for our student population," she said. "Reservists on duty at Fort Huachuca can also utilize the free services at the center."
For those concerned about an appointment time being available, Preston said, "we have nine preparers available, one person designated to answer questions about complex issues, and one person on the phones."
Other tax preparers can offer free services for the military in certain limited circumstances, but all of the ITAC services are free for all eligible taxpayers, including retirees and family members. The
Soldiers preparing taxes are qualified and the training and selection of these tax preparers is rigorous and in most cases, more intensive than that of paid preparers.
The Soldiers detailed to the ITAC go through an interview and screening process with the officer in charge -- who is a judge advocate and licensed attorney -- and a civilian operations officer. Soldiers are also subject to background checks to ensure that they are trustworthy and not otherwise disqualified from handling a taxpayer's personal information.
Soldiers are detailed to serve as tax center advisors (TCAs). These TCAs will be assigned to the ITAC for the entire tax season, starting Dec. 12, 2016 through April 30, 2017. The Office of the Staff Judge Advocate will conduct preliminary tax training and tax software familiarization training. Formal tax training is necessary for the TCAs to obtain IRS tax certification prior to the opening of the ITAC.
Sgt. Kascia Bigil, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, and tax preparer at the ITAC, volunteered for the job and explained that she thought "it would be a good experience and something to learn for the future."
Bigil said they had to take a "class to learn how to use the software, a code of conduct class, one to familiarize them with the taxes, [and] a week long class at the Ed Center with people who were professional tax preparers to teach us what we needed to know, through basic and advanced (returns)."
James Weathersby, operations officer, ITAC, came on board in September 2015, but has many years of experience.
"I've been in the tax arena for over 30 years," Weathersby said. "There are a lot of behind the scenes things that we have to do for the tax center. We are using borrowed military manpower so we have to get permission from the garrison and installation commanders. We are asking for certain Soldiers with a certain background. A lot of commanders don't want to give their Soldiers up for four months.
"It's a labor of love," explained Weathersby about the process that TCAs go through to be selected. "Then it's our job to get them trained. We train here with the reference materials that we obtain from the IRS. And then we have an IRS representative that comes in for four weeks of training in January to train them as well. Then they take their certifications. Even if they are trained, they still have to pass their test to be certified. Once they've passed their certification, then they are allowed to start preparing tax returns for the community."
Weathersby said they do everything they can to make the process easy for the customer. "When they call in for their appointment, we take all the pertinent information that we need. Then we send them an email with an Outlook appointment, and we send them an attachment with the information document listing exactly they need to bring for tax documents."
Each return prepared in the ITAC goes through a quality assurance/quality control process (QA/QC). This includes a second set of eyes usually belonging to a veteran tax preparer who double-checks all pertinent information, from correct spelling of the taxpayer's name to the correct calculation of credits and adjustments to income. Finally, once a tax return is reviewed by QA/QC, it is ready for e-file by the officer in charge or the operations officer. As an additional safeguard, the IRS will also screen tax returns and notify filing location if any further corrections need to be made.
"Two Soldiers, the quality reviewers, look over the tax returns," Weathersby said explaining the QA/QC process before the tax returns are submitted. "I'm the one who transmits the files to the IRS. I'm also a quality reviewer as well."
Weathersby said "the Soldiers here are jumping right in. They love what they do. They are really excited about being down here."
Those who wish to have their return done at the Fort Huachuca ITAC should call anytime during the normal ITAC business hours to schedule an appointment. The appointment will be confirmed via email, and a confirmation message will include a flyer with helpful tax tips.
To receive assistance, clients must bring the following items to the ITAC for their appointment:
● Government Identification
● Social Security Card
● 2016 W-2 Tax Form(s)
● Voided Checks or Bank Statement (Reflexing Routing and Account Numbers)
Clients should also bring:
● Copy of 2015 Tax Return
● Other 2016 tax documentation such as 1099-R, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, SSA-1099,
1099-MISC, etc., if applicable
● Documentation pertaining to filing status, such as divorce decree stipulating:
Dependent tax claims, alimonies, etc., if applicable
● Scholarships, tuition fees/debts and student loans if applicable
● If planning to itemize deductions, all applicable receipts and records
The ITAC is one of many Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites throughout the country. As a VITA site, the scope of the ITAC is regulated by the Office of the Judge Advocate General, Army Regulations 27-3 (the Army Legal Assistance Program), and the Internal Revenue Service. Some type of taxes such as certain business taxes and types of self-employment are outside the scope of the Army Regulation and the VITA program. If you are uncertain if you qualify, call the ITAC for more details. To make an appointment or for more information about the ITAC, call 520.533.1040 or 520.533.1080 during operating hours.
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