Tax Center kicks-off tax season

  • Published
  • By Airman Donald Knechtel
  • 28 BW/PA
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Ellsworth Air Force Base kicked-off the 2016 tax season with the grand opening of the base's tax center Jan. 28.

Active-duty members, dependents and retirees will be able to make an appointment with trained personnel to file their personal taxes free of charge, beginning Feb. 1.

"We've been trained by the Internal Revenue Service, so we've got experienced tax preparers, some with as many as 27 years' experience," said Capt. Riley Graber, 28th Bomb Wing assistant staff judge advocate. "The Tax Center also allows for a collective of us to work together on any issues a person might have that maybe one of us tax preparers don't know - a feature one cannot find if doing their taxes on their own online."

Graber added providing a friendly face to those who come in and having that personal rapport eases the discussion of money issues.

"Online when you're doing your taxes, from what I've experienced, it's supposed to be user friendly and these services claim that they will walk you through it the best that they can but you're dealing with computers, so there's no personal interaction there," said Senior Airman Thomas Turnbull, 28th Contracting Squadron contract specialist and volunteer. "Here at the Tax Center, you are face to face with volunteers who are here for you, so you get more of a sense they are actually trying to help you file your return properly."

Graber pointed out last year the Tax Center provided assistance with over 600 returns, helping members of Team Ellsworth receive $1.15 million in refunds.

"We have a lot of young Airmen who may have never filed taxes before, and we have a retiree group that may have never worked with the software we now have available to pay their taxes opposed to the old paper method," said Graber. "[So] we want to be that conduit to get in there for them and file their taxes the right way so they get their money back."

Turnbull stated it can be kind of daunting, especially for the junior enlisted who are filing a tax return for the first time.

"I think that coming here and having a center dedicated to supporting and helping them file their own taxes definitely could be more beneficial and provide help," Turnbull said.

Customers should bring a proof of identity, their social security cards for all parties on the taxes [including children and dependents], and any income forms they have such as their W2, 1099s, or 1098s, identification number for child care provider and their direct deposit information with them when filing their personal taxes.

The Tax Center is located on base in the Rushmore Center, suite 1300, and will be open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until the end of the tax season. For more information or to set up an appointment or even volunteer, call the Tax Center at (605) 385-8298.