By Tim Cherry
Staff Writer
Thursday, January 24, 2013

The Fort Belvoir Installation Tax Center will open for state and federal income tax preparation and filing services Feb. 4 and operate until May 1, according to Col. Joseph A. Keeler, Garrison Legal Office staff judge advocate.

The free service provides space-available assistance to active-duty servicemembers, retirees and their dependents. Internal Revenue Service trained and certified staff-members will provide the assistance and ensure participants receive full tax credit.

“This service saves military members money in preparation fees associated with going to commercial tax businesses,” said Christa Lacy, tax center site coordinator. “It gives them military credits that sometimes are missed at the off-post sites.”

Last year, due to budget constraints and personnel shortages, the service was limited to eligible active-duty officers and enlisted Soldiers and their Families who work or reside on post. The legal office has removed those restrictions for this year of services, Lacy said.

The Tax Center will electronically prepare and file state and federal income tax returns for active-duty servicemembers, retirees and their dependents. The center will also prepare tax returns for eligible clients who perform child care in the home, in accordance with Army Regulation 27-3, paragraph 3-8(a) (2), as long as the information can be accurately and completely reported on a Schedule C-EZ form.

Volunteers comprise the tax center’s staff. Each member has received certified IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance military training. The training and tax program utilized by the volunteers help them attribute credits due to eligible servicemembers and dependents.

“I have an extraordinary staff,” said Lacy, who has been the tax center coordinator for five years. “The civilian volunteers keep coming back and they really enjoy preparing taxes as it’s a learning experience for them.”

Lacy recommends clients utilize the tax center for federal and state taxes. Utilizing the tax center for only one level delays the return process, Lacy said.

“It’s more advantageous for them to have their federal and state prepared in our office,” Lacy said.

The tax center is unable to prepare the following types of returns:

• Individuals who present more than ten (10) stock or mutual fund sales;

• Tax returns for clients who have self-employment income; and

• Tax returns for clients who have income from more than one rental property.

The Tax Center is co-located with the Legal Assistance Office in Bldg. 257. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tax returns will be prepared by appointment only.

Eligible clients can now request appointments through the Fort Belvoir Legal Assistance/Tax Center website www.belvoir.army.mil/sja/newsite/Lad/tax.asp.