Kaiserslautern tax center celebrates opening with ribbon cutting

Photo By Master Sgt. Warren Wright | Col. G. Shawn Wells Jr. (right) and Command Sgt. Maj. Edward J. Williams III (left), the commander and command sergeant major of U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz respectively, cut a ribbon signifying the opening of the Kaiserslautern Tax Center during a ceremony on Kleber Kaserne, Feb. 4. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Warren W. Wright Jr., 21st TSC Public Affairs)  

KAISERSLAUTERN, GERMANY

02.04.2015

Story by Brandon Beach 

21st Theater Sustainment Command

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany – Doors opened at tax centers across the Kaiserslautern Military Community following a ribbon-cutting event Feb. 4 on Kleber Kaserne.

Col. G. Shawn Wells Jr. and Command Sgt. Maj. Edward J. Williams III, the commander and command sergeant major of U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz respectively, had the honor of snipping the ceremonial dollar-euro-bill ribbon in front of the tax center office in Building 3210. Also joining in the festivities were tax preparers from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command and Kaiserslautern Legal Services Center personnel.

Tax preparers in the KMC have already assisted a steady wave of customers since W-2s and 1099s were released in January. There are three tax centers available on Kleber Kaserne, Pulaski Barracks and Landstuhl Military Installation that offer free walk-in and drop-off services.

Donald Davis, the 21st TSC tax coordinator at the Kleber Legal Services Center, said refund dollars generated last year out of the three KMC tax centers exceeded $7 million, while customers saved nearly $960,000 in tax preparation fees.

Davis advises community members who are ready to file to visit the centers prepared with their personal documents, to include W-2s, 1099s, bank direct deposit information, prior-year returns, mortgage statements and any other forms related to rental property or self employment. Appointments are not required.

The traditional deadline for federal and state tax returns is April 15, 2015; however, military and civilian members serving overseas have an automatic two-month extension, pushing their filing due date to June 15, 2015. But, there is one catch.

“That [date of June 15] is just an extension to file, not an extension to pay,” said Davis.

This year, the Internal Revenue Service announced the new health insurance reporting requirement, which is part of the Affordable Care Act. Taxpayers must now report whether they had heath care coverage during calendar year 2014.

For information on this and other tax law changes, go to www.irs.gov or visit your 21st TSC tax experts for assistance.

• Date Taken: 02.04.2015
• Date Posted: 02.05.2015 07:40
• Story ID: 153609
• Location: KAISERSLAUTERN, DE