JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Manning issues forced the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Tax Center in building 202 to cut back to three and a half days of operation this year, but its volunteers remain a constant in the face of change - as dedicated to their task as ever.
Because the tax center's days of operation have been reduced from five in 2013 to four in 2014, to 3½ this year, the number of returns processed has declined. However, volunteers still helped customers complete more than 1,000 returns, saving them more than $200,000 in preparation fees and delivering some $1.5 million in refunds, LaMarr Queen, tax center coordinator, said.
Volunteers provide quality assistance free of charge to military members, retirees and family members, Queen said.
"They're the best - the place wouldn't run without them," he said. "They make it happen. They give of themselves freely to help others and are always in a good mood."
Thirty volunteers devoted their time to the tax center this year, a cross-section of the JBSA-Randolph community that included active-duty members, retirees, spouses and other family members, and civilian employees. They're accommodating to customers, meeting them face to face or taking returns home with them.
Queen said all volunteers are trained according to the Internal Revenue Service Volunteer Income Tax Program site standards. They are typically trained in December, he said, but this year the week-long session took place in January.
The biggest change in the tax laws this year was the Affordable Care Act, the reform of the United States health care and health insurance system that was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010.
"But there were not many instances where that came into play since most filers here are under TRICARE," Queen said.
Volunteers are asked for one four-hour shift per week, but some work 12 hours a week or more, he said.
"It amazes me how much they're willing to give," Queen said.
Capt. Randy Turner, Air Force Security Assistance Training Squadron foreign military sales training program manager, completed his first tax season as a volunteer.
"I love being a volunteer," he said. "I've met some great people, and worked with great people. I've also learned a great deal about taxes."
Tax preparation runs in his family, Turner said, but he didn't have an opportunity to volunteer until this tax season.
"My family owns a tax business," he said. "My mother does taxes and so did my grandmother. I've been wanting to volunteer for some time, but couldn't ever make it happen due to TDYs or deployments."
Turner met Queen at the 502nd Security Forces and Logistics Support Group Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, where the tax center coordinator works as a paralegal, and an opportunity to volunteer presented itself.
"I just happened to be filling out a will at the legal office the week before the training, was able to meet LaMarr, and it's been history ever since," he said.
In contrast to Turner, Col. Richard Roessler, Air Education and Training Command Readiness Division chief, has been a volunteer tax preparer for more than a decade.
"The first year that I assisted with taxes was around 2002 or 2003 at Scott Air Force Base," he said. "I have been able to help off and on for about five or six tax years since."
Roessler, who volunteers at the tax center four hours a week but sometimes takes work home, said helping with returns keeps his "'mathematical mind' working."
"I have specialized in medical readiness, which is not primarily a financial function," he said. "Doing taxes helps keep some of my finance skills - I majored in accounting way back when I was an undergraduate - up to speed."
Roessler said he enjoys talking with the customers.
"They often give me more advice than I give them," he said. "I also enjoy the challenges of unique tax returns, but the challenges are great parts about being a tax volunteer."