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McConnell offers free tax preparation services for reservists

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brannen Parrish
  • 931st Air Refueling Group
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Federal civilian employees, active duty military, retired military, guardsmen and reservists can take advantage of free tax preparation and filing when the Tax Office opens here, Jan. 29.

The tax office will be staffed by Internal Revenue Service-certified, volunteer tax preparation specialists Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The tax office, which is managed by the 22nd Air Refueling Wing Legal Office, prepared and filed taxes for more than 1,500 people in 2013, generating $3.8 million in returns and saved members more than $356,000 in tax preparation fees.

"We've had a very successful tax preparation program at McConnell," said Capt. James Krauer, 22nd ARW Legal Assistance chief. "A lot of that success is due to commanders supporting it and the volunteers who run it. They do a great job."

Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are Airmen whose supervisors and commanders have allowed them to be available, while others are retirees, and dependents seeking a way to contribute. All volunteer tax preparers are certified through the IRS' Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program after completing training and passing the mandated test in December 2013.

Tax center coordinator, Teresa Lybarger, is in her fourth year of preparing taxes here said filers should bring as many of their available documents with them since deductions and credits may be available that the customer is not aware of.

"It's very important to always bring everything because there might be a deduction they over looked," said Lybarger. "If you just purchased a home it is better to bring in your HUD-1 statement as well as the 1098 in order to deduct more than just the interest on the mortgage."

Some tax documents such as the 1099-R, which is used to report distributions from pensions, annuities and retirement plans, must be present in order to complete the filing process.

While the McConnell Tax Center operates by appointment, Lybarger said her staff would work with McConnell Community members who perform shift work.

"We understand that some people perform shift-work that makes it difficult to be here between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. We can arrange to have them drop off their paperwork in the morning and return at lunch, if necessary," Lybarger said.

To schedule an appointment or for questions about tax preparation, call the McConnell Tax Center at 759-2488.