- Hi, I'm Pat young.
And welcome to another edition of the Marne Report.
I'm here with Captain Dong Zee and we're
gonna be talking about the Marne Tax Center.
It's about to be opened I understand.
- That's right, that's right
we're very excited it's going to be great this year.
- So last year they saved both installations
a lot of money and
you offer a certain basic service to
soldiers, family members and some retirees
are there gonna be any changes
this year for the Tax Center?
- Well the Tax Center, the main change for
this year is really location so for
Fort Stewart, for Hunter airfield it's gonna
remain at building 1211 at the legal center
as it always has been for as long
as the Tax Center's been around.
Fort Stewart it's gonna be at a more convenient location
of building 136 next to DA photos
across from the main chapel.
Aside from that we're gonna continue
with the kiosks that we introduced last year
which we found very effective and on a
limited basis we'll have some one on one assistance.
- Every year I use the Marne Tax Center
I really appreciate,
you got a good staff and I really like the kiosks
that you did last year.
It seems that y'all have the latest software
and you're able to educate your soldiers enough
to help educate us.
Is there going to be this same software,
same type of education process?
- That's right so this year we will maintain
the same software TaxSlayer,
we will have a cadre of both green-suiters and civilians
who I'm happy to say are all trained beyond advanced
and military and they're qualified, certified by IRS
to help prepare.
We will not have the lessons that captain Hernandez
last years OIC provided by going around the base.
However we will train and assist every soldier
who uses the kiosk, because that's part of the purpose
of the kiosk is to teach them how to prepare
their own taxes.
- So one of the things that I learned when I got there
is it helps to be prepared.
So before people show up there
is there any particular thing that they need
to bring with them?
- I think there's a somewhat lengthy list of items
that they should, and this could be found
at the Marne website for the Tax Center.
But above all else, bring last year's 1040
it's very important.
- Okay well a 1040 I've,
last year when I got there they had I guess
it was three kiosk at Hunter or maybe four
and it seemed to be a lot of kiosk at Fort Stewart
is there any best place to do your taxes?
- There really isn't I mean if you live closer to Hunter
I would go to Hunter.
Hunter will have five, we're looking to get six
kiosks this year.
We have a very robust staff.
And then for Fort Stewart we are gonna have
nine to ten kiosks.
So go where it's most convenient for you
but do bear in mind that Fort Stewart
is gonna be a little more busy.
- For the Tax Centers y'all gonna open your doors
you're gonna do a grand opening or?
- That's right we're gonna have a grand opening ceremony
it's going to be at 10 o'clock on Thursday
for Fort Stewart,
it's gonna be for Hunter it's gonna be the next day, Friday
at 11:30.
- And so after that you're gonna start opening your doors
on a regular basis starting about?
- That's right so our hours are going to be
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 10 o'clock until 18:00.
Thursday it'll be from 13:00 to 18:00.
Friday will resume opening at 10:00 a.m.
but we'll close a little bit earlier for the soldiers,
so we end at 17:05.
- So do you do your own taxes every year?
- I sure try to, I sure try to.
I think it's a good skill to learn,
I mean not only for myself
but you know for my family members.
And yeah I've enjoyed it,
it's like doing puzzles.
- Yeah I love doing puzzles.
We help do the newspaper every year and
every week it's a new puzzle.
Y'all help me every year and I imagine y'all are
gonna expect another large return,
a lot of people getting refunds?
- We sure hope so,
we have some very experienced folks this year.
I think, without overstating it, I think this year
is as good as any if not better to come in
and come to the Marne Tax Center
and have your tax returns done.
- All right sir, well I really appreciate you coming in
and talking with us once again.
This is Pat Young,
coming to you from the Marne Report
and with captain Dong Zee, Marne Tax Center.
Thank you