News

Tax center gearing up for another busy season

  • Published
  • By Rick Wood
  • Northwest Guardian
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  The tax man cometh -- but thanks to Joint Base Lewis-McChord Tax Center, help filing your taxes is close at hand.

The tax center offers services for free to active-duty servicemembers, their families and retirees, intended to help ease financial burdens during tax time, he said.

Reservists with the 446th Airlift Wing who are on orders may also take advantage of this service.

"It's absolutely amazing," said Brig. Gen. Lloyd Miles, I Corps Deputy Commanding.  "Last year, (the tax center) saved people nearly $1 million in fees."

The importance of proper support and representation for servicemembers dealing with deployments and permanent changes of station can alleviate stress on families, he said.

JBLM Tax Center Officer in Charge, Capt. Jason Heaser, said he hopes to provide services to a significant portion of the joint base community.

"People can come in and get free tax preparation and assistance," Captain Heaser said. "We actually take the documents -- 1040s and 1099s -- create the filing document and file it."

However, state returns still have to be mailed to their respective home states, he said.

"It's the first time that it has been the joint base tax center," Captain Heaser said.

To aid JBLM McChord Field residents and workers, tax preparers will also be located at Bldg. 100, in Room 3007 he said.

Opening Jan. 31, the McChord Field Tax Center hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 9 a.m., to 5 p.m.  Appointments are for complex returns only; all other customers will be seen on a walk-in basis. If your unit would like to schedule a day for the unit to come in, please contact 253-982-6857 or 253-967-2463 to schedule.

Last year, more than 7,500 returns were filed through the tax centers throughout JBLM, he said.

"We're looking to do 10,000 returns this year," said Captain Heaser.

To further meet the needs of servicemembers' schedules, the center is in operation 13 hours per day, he said.

"That's compared to the eight hours per workday we were open last year," Captain Heaser said. "We expect wait times to drop."

Tax center personnel under went four weeks of intensive training in preparation for this year's tax season, he said.

"They spent one of those weeks in a classroom with (Internal Revenue Service) personnel from the local office," said Captain Heaser. "We are on top of the newest laws and regulations. Some staff members are also certified to handle casualty assistance tax returns."

A significant change in the tax laws for this year is that people filing with itemized deductions need to wait until Feb. 15, he said. "Those filing with standard deductions can file immediately," Heaser said.