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Tax season support available at Scott Air Force Base

  • Published
  • By Capt. Caroline Raines
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Judge Advocate
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Tax season is here and the 375th Air Mobility Wing Legal Office wants to make sure that all of our base community has the resources to timely file. Here are the top three resources we want everyone to know about:

Volunteer tax clinics
The Scott Tax Center will be open March 6, 13, and 20 to prepare returns for E1 through E5 Airmen by appointment. You can schedule an appointment beginning Feb. 21 by calling 256-1040 or sending an email to scott.taxcenter@us.af.mil.

There are numerous other free tax clinics in the area serving those with annual household income of less than $52,000 and serving eligible senior citizens. To learn if you qualify or find the nearest tax preparation site DIAL 2-1-1.

Online filing
It can be quick and easy. Do it yourself from the comfort of your own home. Filing your own taxes is getting easier and easier. There is great online software that walks you through the process by asking you simple questions.

All active duty can file free tax returns at Military OneSource: www.militaryonesource.mil. The site allows you to prepare and file your federal and up to three state tax returns using H&R Block software, chat online with support services, and search for answers to your filing questions using a helpful and user-friendly database.

Answers to tax questions
If you get stuck on a particular tax question there is lots of useful information on the IRS website, www.irs.gov. Need to know the difference between taxable and nontaxable income? What the Earned Income Tax Credit is? The IRS has a very user-friendly website. You can watch friendly YouTube videos to get started or go to the hot topics section to find more information on recent changes and frequently asked questions. If you need to get down to the nitty gritty and be thorough, go straight to the publications on the "Forms and Pubs" tab.

Filing your own taxes has never been easier and most people can do it themselves from the comfort of their own homes. If you do decide, however, that you would like to hire a paid tax preparer be careful that you don't overpay and avoid "instant refund" or "fast cash refund" claims that are actually high interest loans.

This article is a part of a series of advice columns from the 375th AMW Legal Office to assist the Scott Air Force Base community during tax season.