Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program ready to assist

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EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The Eielson Air Force Base's volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program will be holding their annual 1040EZ walk-in service 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 22, in the Amber Hall courtroom. This tax assistance is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is for any Air Force members filing a 1040EZ. Refunds should be received approximately Feb. 5. All who qualify are encouraged to participate.

To have taxes done, bring W-2 and any bank statements with interest amounts. If wishing to file for direct deposit, bring a cancelled check. The legal office electronically files about 75 to 100 returns during this walk-in day. The legal office will continue helping file EZ returns on a walk-in basis, Monday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. beginning Jan. 25.

The program joined forces with the IRS' Electronic Filing Program several years ago. Since then, not only have Icemen received free assistance in preparing Federal income tax returns and free tax advice, they also have been filing it electronically for free, said Cindy Bolduc, 354th Fighter Wing Legal Office.

Electronic filing is the preparation, transmission, and processing of tax information completely by computer. There is no IRS tax form to mail in, only signature and information documents. Electronic tax filing is faster and more accurate than mailing a tax return because a return is transmitted over telephone lines right to an IRS computer where it's automatically checked for errors and missing information. Just about anyone filing an income tax return can file electronically and the benefits are many.

"It's accurate," Mrs. Bolduc said. The error rate of Electronic Filing returns is less than one percent. However, the error rate of paper returns is generally eighteen percent or higher.

It's also quick, she said. Tax returns are processed quickly because return information goes straight from the filer to IRS computers. There's no added time for mail delivery or for it to be typed into IRS computers with thousands of other returns. Also, with Direct Deposit, the IRS will generally transfer refund amounts right into personal checking or savings accounts within 10 to 14 days of receiving the return.

Everyone can file now and pay by April 15 if taxes are owed to the IRS, Mrs. Bolduc said. Taxes can be filed anytime during the tax season but payment can be held off until on or before April 15 by using Form 1040V "Payment Voucher."

All other individuals desiring to electronically file a more complicated return such as 1040A and 1040 must first go through their Unit Tax Advisor. Their UTA will make an appointment for them to file free of charge at the Legal Office. With 90 days remaining until April 15, there is plenty of time to take advantage of all of the free resources available to file taxes.

Contact your UTAs for more information. The following UTAs will be offering free assistance throughout the upcoming tax season.

354th Force Support Squadron -- Tracey Coy
354th Maintenance Squadron -- Staff Sgt. Brian Ballweg
354th Civil Engineer Squadron -- Tech. Sgt. Brian Jolly
Det. 460 -- Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Alvar
354th Medical Group -- Staff Sgt. Ashley Newton
354th Operations Group -- Carrie Rawls
354th Communications Squadron -- Tech. Sgt. Bradley Kuehn, Tech. Sgt. Sheila Teal
3rd Combat Training Squadron -- Master Sgt. Thomas Davis
Clear Air Force Station -- Tech. Sgt. Jamie Kurzenberger