FORT HOOD, Texas - The much anticipated tax season is here, and to kick off the start of the season, the Fort Hood Tax Center held a grand opening ceremony Jan. 20 at 11:30 a.m.
The ceremony occurred at Building 13, on Support Avenue with Lt. Gen. Sean B. MacFarland, III Corps and Fort Hood commanding general, as the guest speaker.
The center provides free tax services to all active duty Soldiers, Retirees and their Families. Also, additional services are available to Reserve and National Guard Soldiers serving on active status for a minimum of 30 days.
Certified volunteer income tax assistants provide all tax preparation.
“Each tax assistant had to attend two weeks of training given by the IRS and pass all required exams with at least an 80 percent,” said Capt. Nicholas Pritchett, Fort Hood Tax Center officer in charge.
Federal and state income tax preparation is provided and electronic filing is available for federal income tax returns.
“If a client comes in with a 1040-EZ form, they can drop it off and we e-file it for them,” said Pritchett.
All customers must make an appointment in order to be seen, said Pritchett. Tax advice cannot be given over the phone.
“All clients are slotted one hour increments,” said Pritchett. “If there are appointments that extend beyond that, clients can be scheduled to come back.”
The tax center estimates more than 6,000 tax returns to be filed this year, said Pritchett.
The office will not prepare income taxes for individuals who have engaged in ten or more stock or security transactions in a single year, for individuals with more than one rental property, or for individuals who own a business or are self-employed, except on-post child care providers registered with Family Child Care.
The center cannot assist any person who is not eligible for assistance under AR 27-3, paragraph 2-5, i.e., relatives who do not qualify as dependents, non-military ex-spouses (unless they meet the “20/20/20 year rule”, which means the parties have been married for at least 20 years, the service member performed at least 20 years of service creditable for retirement pay and there is at least a 20 year overlap of marriage and the military service), people who have been discharged from military service, and other people not entitled to hold a military ID card.
Also, Department of Defense civilian employees are not eligible for legal assistance except under limited circumstances, i.e., recommendations of financial liability, civilian employees who are assigned as “mission essential” or “emergency-essential.”
“The tax center is a free and easy way for Soldiers to file their taxes,” said Staff Sgt. Eric Smith, Fort Hood Tex Center noncommissioned officer on charge. “Soldiers do not have to go off post and deal with the outrageous prices that many businesses may charge.”
“The tax assistants can identify with the military personnel and if a Soldier is deployed it can take some burden off of them knowing their spouse can come in and get the service they need,” said Smith.
The hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. with extended hours until 7 p.m. on Thursday. No children are able to attend appointments.
The center operates from Jan. 20 through April 15, 2015.
To schedule an appointment call the Fort Hood Tax Center at 288-7995 or 287-3294.
| Date Taken: | 01.20.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 09.11.2015 10:27 |
| Story ID: | 175709 |
| Location: | KILLEEN, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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