JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
The Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Tax Center opened Monday, providing free tax preparation and e-filing services of both federal and state income tax returns for active duty, Reserve, National Guard, retired military, and their family members.
The tax center emphasizes the new Internal Revenue Service policies that all tax returns be completed in one appointment.
The following is required documentation for tax return completion:
· Each taxpayer must bring all relevant tax documents during the visit.
· Each taxpayer must be present to sign or have previously executed a power of attorney for someone to sign on their behalf.
· Each taxpayer must bring a Social Security card and official photo ID.
"Failure to bring any of these items to your tax appointment will result in us not being able to process your tax return at that time," said Capt. R. Seth Higgs, onsite officer in charge, JBSA-Lackland Tax Center.
Due to limited resources and manning, a second follow-up appointment will be given lower scheduling priority than new, first-time appointments, he said.
Some necessary tax documents, including W-2s, will not be available to most taxpayers until after the tax center opens. W-2s for active-duty Air Force, Army, and Navy are not available until Monday, and Travel/Miscellaneous W-2s will not be available until Jan. 31.
Important tax documents from non-Department of Defense sources, such as Mortgage Interest 1098s and 1099-INTs or 1099-DIVs from personal banks, may be released later in the year. Most tax documents from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, to include Annuitant 1099-R, Retiree 1099-R, Civilian W-2, Reserve Component W-2 and Savings Deposit Program 1099-INT, are or will be available online at myPay.
"Please consider what documents you will need, perhaps by reviewing your tax submissions from last year, and be sure you have everything before scheduling an appointment. Again, we cannot complete your tax return without all relevant tax documents," said Higgs.
The JBSA-Lackland Tax Center is located at 37th Training Wing headquarters, 1701 Kenly Ave., Bldg. 2484, Room 041, in the basement. The facility is located across the street from the Gateway Club. Operating hours will be Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center is closed on Fridays and federal holidays.
Appointments are required, except for basic trainees and technical school students, who may be seen on a walk-in basis.
Appointments can be scheduled by calling the tax center at 210-671-1001.
In addition to the tax center, most units and organizations will have at least one IRS-trained Unit Tax Advisor ready to assist with income tax returns. Active-duty members are strongly encouraged to seek assistance from their UTA before visiting the tax center.
All UTAs receive comprehensive training and have successfully completed a number of examinations to become certified tax advisors. UTAs have reference materials and forms for processing returns.
Taxpayers who prefer to self-prepare and file their tax returns electronically may do so online by visiting
www.militaryonesource.com. This service is free to active-duty service members and their families with tax consultation also available by phone.
Taxpayers who prefer to self-prepare and file their tax returns by mail may order forms from the IRS web site at
www.irs.gov. (
Courtesy, 802nd Mission Support Group, Judge Advocate Office)