JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program begins Monday at the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Tax Center, building 202, for the 2013 tax year.
VITA program volunteers will help military members, retirees and family members complete their 2013 income tax returns before the April 15 deadline.
LaMarr Queen, JBSA-Randolph Tax Center coordinator, said appointments may be made by calling 652-1040. The center's hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.
The tax center started taking appointments Jan. 27 and volunteers will start seeing people Monday, Queen said.
"Most appointments last about an hour, and we ask that people bring in all the documents they need to complete the process," he said.
Queen, who said the center also accepts drop-offs, encouraged tax filers to make appointments as soon as possible.
"By mid- to late-February we are booked up," he said.
Tax center volunteers are certified to complete a range of returns, Queen said.
"The JBSA-Randolph Tax Center staff is certified by the Internal Revenue Service to complete advance and military tax returns," he said. "The staff is trained to do tax returns that include wages, interest, dividends, capital gains with basis, residential rental real estate, individual retirement account distributions, pension, unemployment and social security incomes, Schedule C and C-EZ home-based business income returns, Schedule A, itemized deductions, education, residential energy, dependent care, retirement savings, child tax, additional child tax and earned income credits."
Queen said the staff is "specifically trained to prepare returns for military members with combat zone excluded pay and other military unique tax situations."
Volunteers completed 1,766 tax returns last year, saving people nearly $350,000 in preparation fees and securing more than $3.2 million in tax refunds, Queen said.
He attributed success of the program to the volunteers.
"My volunteers are fantastic," Queen said. "They do a great job. They dedicate their time and effort, and people appreciate that. My hat's off to all of them."
Queen said volunteers are asked to work at least one four-hour shift per week, but some work two to three shifts per week and others contribute a few days per week; they may also work on returns at home. He said several volunteers have many years of experience.
Dave Searcey, Air Education and Training Command training pipeline manager, became a VITA volunteer about 10 years ago.
"I needed help for my taxes, turned to VITA on base and found them so helpful that I decided to volunteer," he said. "In addition to helping others, I learn so much about taxes that helps my family members and co-workers."
Queen said there is always a need for volunteers at the tax center. No experience is needed, and the program provides IRS-certified training.