Fort Gordon is continuing its tradition of serving and saving service members (and their families) money.
The Fort Gordon Tax Center opened for the season following a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday. The center provides free preparing and filing of state and federal income taxes for active-duty service members, retirees, and their dependents whose combined income is less than $75,000.
Staffed by a team of 16 service members, the Fort Gordon Tax Center is one of a few military installations that still offers tax preparation and filing at no charge to those who are eligible. Prior to the center’s opening, each service member received training from the IRS through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and successfully completed a series of exams in order to become a certified tax preparer.
“It’s not just a walk in the park … it’s a lot of training, it’s a lot all at once, but they have been doing a great job,” said Capt. Ellen Walburn, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate and Fort Gordon Tax Center officer-in-charge. “We also practice preparing returns so that we’re sharp on our skills and we’re ready to go.”
Last year, the Fort Gordon Tax Center filed 2,062 state and federal tax returns for members of the Fort Gordon community, resulting in nearly $2 million in refunds and an estimated $217,000 savings in tax preparation fees.
“That’s real money … so thanks to the experts that run this,” said Fort Gordon Garrison Commander Col. Shaw Pick.
Tax preparations are available by appointment only, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Walk-ins will not be accepted. Call 706-787-1040 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to schedule an appointment to drop off the required documentation for the preparation of your taxes. Available appointments are limited and will be scheduled no more than two weeks in advance. In an effort to minimize contact and mitigate COVID-19, clients will be asked to return at a later date to sign and file their tax return.
Walburn said she and her team are happy to serve the Fort Gordon community and are looking forward to a successful 2022 tax season.
“We’re excited to be here, excited to offer this service, and we appreciate the community and Fort Gordon’s support,” Walburn said. “I think it’s a great asset to the community.”
The tax center is in the same location as last year: Building 38706, off of 7th Avenue and 38th Alley.
Limitations to services include: returns involving more than one rental property; returns that include any business with an inventory; returns that include any business with a profit of over $10,000; and more than 10 stock transactions.
Required documents
The following documents must be brought to your appointment:
· Military ID card your driver’s license, passport, or state issued identification for self and dependents
· IRS Intake and Interview Sheet (this will be emailed once you schedule your appointment to drop off
· Social Security cards for self and dependents (if applicable)
· All W-2s
· All 1099s (1099-R, 1099-MISC, 1099-INs, 1099-DIVs, 1099- SSs, etc.)
· Your bank’s routing and account numbers
· Your 2021 state and federal return
· Form 8332 (If applicable)
· All receipts (If intending to itemize)
· Closing documents (If you purchased or sold a home)
· Investment and/or brokerage account documents
· Any documents reporting a withholding
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