Ellsworth offers free tax services for Airmen, retirees, families

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kate Maurer
  • 28 Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Base officials have opened a tax center in Suite 1300 of the Rushmore Center to help Airmen, retirees and their families prepare their tax forms

Active-duty Airmen, retirees and their families can now file their 2012 taxes with the help of the center's 25 volunteers that have been trained, tested and certified through programs of the Internal Revenue Service to assist with e-filing taxes. Most importantly, the volunteers are trained specifically for assisting military members.

"We're different than online tax services because we can take what you have this year and give you advice for a more accurate refund next year," said Master Sgt. Scott Kendall, 28th Munitions Squadron munitions accountability systems officer and three-year tax center volunteer.

Kendall said the important items that people must bring with them to scheduled appointments include a military identification card, Social Security cards and birth dates for themselves, their spouse if married, and dependents, as well as a voided check to verify account information.

"All of the volunteers at the tax center were extremely professional, courteous and thorough, said Lt. Col. Michael Petrocco, 28th Mission Support Group deputy commander and tax center customer. "They made my tax review relatively painless, and I was in and out in minimal time."

Customers should also have a copy of their 2011 tax return, 2012 W-2s, 1098s, 1099s, or anything that shows a source of income from the last year, and proof of foreign status if applying for an individual taxpayer I.D. number.

"If all you have are simple documents like W-2s and 1098s, your appointment should take roughly 30 minutes," said Kendall.

The tax center is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. It will also be open Feb. 23 and March 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The tax center will remain open until the April 15 filing deadline.

"The tax center provides a valuable service to our Airmen and Ellsworth community," said Petrocco. "I highly encourage folks to stop by and make an appointment."

For more information or to make an appointment, call the tax center at (605) 385-2329. To sign up to volunteer for next year's tax center, contact Senior Airman Erica Thoen, 28th Bomb Wing paralegal and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program coordinator, via e-mail at erica.thoen@ellsworth.af.mil.