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Tax center scheduled to open Jan. 23

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amber E. N. Jacobs
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The Shaw Air Force Base tax center is scheduled to open at the community activity center Jan. 23 and operate until Apr. 17.

The tax center, administered by the 20th Fighter Wing Legal office, is operated by more than 25 volunteer income tax assistance representatives who will provide free electronic tax filing to anyone with military identification.

Although the concept of filing taxes can feel a bit overwhelming, the tax center makes it easier by providing volunteers who are certified and trained by the Internal Revenue Service to accurately file forms for the 2012 tax season.

Originally the free tax service was set up to allow E-5s and below the opportunity to save money by filing their taxes, but over the years the service has evolved to help anyone on base.

"We are trying to save the young Airmen money," said Mr. Lee Joyce, 20th Fighter Wing Legal office coordinator and head of the tax center. "Last year the center filed more than 2,900 tax returns and helped Airmen, retirees and spouses save an excess of $400,000."

The number one mistake people make when filing their own taxes is they do not take all of the exemptions they are entitled to, Joyce explained. These are usually education benefits they do not know about because they go through the forms too fast or they do not understand the terminology.

Instead Joyce recommends Airmen take advantage of the free service on base rather than paying out of pocket to have an accounting service file the forms or buy the tax software that can cost more than $80.

"It's free and the people are trained, so you know its going to be done right," said Airman 1st Class Terrence Troope, 20th Comptroller Squadron finance customer service technician, and an Airman who used the tax center last year.

The tax filing is generally not a hard process.

"It was super easy," Troope said. "The only thing that I did was go to mypay, print off my W-2 form, take it to the community center, and I was finished within 10-15 minutes. I'm definitely going to use it again."

Despite the fact the center is run by volunteers who receive free training, it still costs the Air Force $2,500 to $5,000 to have the necessary supplies to operate the facility, so it's vital for people to use the service, Joyce said.

"We would like to get as many people in as we can," he added. "If people don't use the tax center the Air Force will do away with it because it costs money to run."

The center will be located on the second floor of the community activity center in classroom 1, and will be open from Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The legal office will start scheduling appointments Jan. 18.

Walk-ins will only be for people filing form 1040EZ. For those filing forms 1040A, 1040 long or have unusual exemptions will need to schedule an appointment. Appointments will have priority over walk-ins.

For more information, call Mr. Joyce at 803-895-1560 or the tax center at 803-895-8780.