JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Tax season has arrived and volunteers at Joint Base Charleston are prepared to help clients file their taxes on time. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Centers will be located at the Air Base in Salon A at the Charleston Club and at the Weapons Station in Building 206, Room 123A (DEERS and ID cards office). The tax center at the Air Base will open January 25, 2016 and will open at the Weapons Station mid-February. The tax centers at both locations will operate Monday through Thursday from 0800 until 1500. Extended hours and/or additional days may be provided at a later date.
The VITA volunteers at both locations are trained to accomplish basic, military and intermediate tax returns. As a general rule, VITA volunteers are not trained to provide advanced returns. However, best efforts will be made to accommodate clients in need of advanced returns. Examples of advanced returns include, but are not limited to, stocks, capital gains and losses, business income, other gains and losses, IRA deductions, foreign income and extensive rental property (active duty military members with moving expenses and who own rental property are still eligible for the VITA program).
Due to the expected workload, tax returns at the Air Base and Weapons Station will be prepared by appointment only. The VITA Center will not be able to assist clients on a walk-in basis. Additionally, the tax center will not have the capability to make copies; therefore, clients must bring the original and one copy of the following items with them to their appointment:
· Military, retiree, dependent ID card to verify eligibility (copy of ID card is not required)
· Social Security cards for all personnel to be claimed on tax return; or ITIN's, if applicable
· Bank routing and account numbers (for direct deposit and electronic debit if applicable)
· Organized receipts that are applicable to your return (business, work related expenses, charitable, medical)
· All W-2 statements
· All applicable 1099s
· 1098-T (Tuition statement - if you were a student in 2013 you may need one. Usually arrives in March)
· Last year's federal and/or state return(s), if applicable
· Any documentation related to inflow and outflow of income
There is no requirement for military members to use the tax centers to prepare or file their returns. For many, do-it-yourself services offer an easy alternative to waiting for an appointment at the tax centers and for those with advanced tax returns. The following web sites provide these do-it-yourself services:
IRS.gov http://www.irs.gov/efile/index.html?portlet=106
Military One Source http://www.militaryonesource.mil/MOS/f?p=MOS:HOME:0
H&R Block (No DoD endorsement intended) http://www.hrblock.com