Army life can be a taxing experience, but when Fort Bliss' Office of the Staff Judge Advocate organizes a way to make tax season simpler for troops, it can't be all that bad. The Fort Bliss Tax Center formally opened for business with a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the center's main post facility Jan. 18.
Last season was one of firsts for number-crunching Soldiers as the OSJA opened dual facilities (main post and East Fort Bliss) for the first time to reflect growing troop populations at Bliss. They're at it again this year, with even more of a workload ahead as the estimated population at Bliss is approximately 30 percent higher than it was roughly a year ago.
Regardless of the work ahead, Capt. Brad Dixon, a Soldier from Bliss' OSJA and this season's tax center officer-in-charge, said his volunteers had already put in many hours of service just getting the new, modernized facility on main post ready for action.
"These Soldiers have put in a tremendous amount of effort to get this place up and running," said Dixon. He added that he remains impressed by the selfless service displayed by the uniformed volunteers who had come to him for tax season from various units and MOS communities across this post.
"They're combat engineers ... they're medics ... they're mechanics," he said. "So you can imagine how they showed up for work the first day and I told them they were going to prepare taxes. But let me tell you how they reacted; they saluted smartly and started taking steps to accomplish the mission. That's because they're more than just combat engineers, medics and mechanics ... they're Soldiers and Soldiers do what it takes to get the job done."
The 26 Soldiers, supported by an also heralded and experienced civilian volunteer tax staff, which now man the two centers represents more dedicated staff members than any other tax season at Bliss, and they're forecasted to serve more tax preparation customers than ever before. Pfc. John Mulquin, Jr., a Soldier from Charlie Company, 501st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, and a volunteer tax preparer this season, said he's ready for the challenge and likes that the tax team he'll work with is a cross-section of this post.
"No matter who comes from what part of the installation or whether [the clients] are family members or retirees, they're going to be served by members of this same community," he said.
Mulquin said that though the training he and the other Soldier-volunteers received was somewhat complex, the IRS employees who facilitated it helped the group flourish in terms of their ability.
"They were very helpful," he said. "We went from basic, to intermediate level, to advanced, while also gaining special military tax knowledge, as well as international tax practices. We all have been certified at the highest level possible for volunteer tax preparers."
As stated, this year the Tax Center will operate two locations, both of which are different facilities than what was used in 2010. The main post facility is located in Bldg. 2910 on Cassidy Road, and the East Bliss site is in Bldg. AR 403 on Sergeant Major Blvd.
They will be open for walk-in service from 8 to 11 a.m. and appointment-only sessions from noon to 5 p.m., along with drop-off service available from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. They will be also open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following Saturdays for appointment-only service: Saturday and Jan. 29, Feb. 5, March 26 and April 2 and 9. Drop-off service is only available for customers who are filing 1040EZ forms either as "single" or "married filing jointly" with no other dependents and no itemized deductions.
Brig. Gen. Stephen Twitty, Bliss' deputy commanding general, was the opening ceremony's guest speaker and said the Bliss Tax Center's past accomplishments, as well as its proven readiness on opening day, is a great example of service in our community.
"I'm told that last year 5,000 people walked through the doors of the tax center," said Twitty. "Just think of what we're going to do this year. I'm glad to see 26 of our finest [Soldiers] standing in front of us. We mention the word 'client' [when talking about tax preparation] but I would change that to 'Soldier' because we're in charge of taking care of our brothers and sisters. I thank you 26 for stepping up to the plate and knowing we have a commitment to each other in our Army. This is what we do... Soldiers helping Soldiers."
All dates and hours are subject to change in accordance with post and training holidays and the needs of its customers. For current information from the tax center, as well as detailed information on what you should bring when you are ready to file, visit www.bliss.army.mil/services/jag/legal assistance/tax web page.htm (please include the spaces in this Web address to reach the intended page). Also, to make an appointment or to speak to a tax center representative, call 568-4999.
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