VITA program helps Airmen in tax season

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Eielson's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provides free tax advice, preparation, and assistance to active duty Airmen stationed here at Eielson and local retirees.

Each year, Airmen volunteer or are nominated by their commander to take a week-long training session to become a certified unit tax advisor. 

They are equipped to address military specific tax issues, such as combat zone tax benefits and the effect of the new Earned Income Tax Credit guidelines. This combined effort ensures that service members receive free tax assistance from well-trained and equipped military tax preparers.

Tech. Sgt. Bradley Kuehn has volunteered to be a unit tax advisor for the past four years.

"I enjoy doing taxes," said Sergeant Kuehn. "Training has its challenging moments, but the legal office provides plenty of help and has really useful resources."

Airmen or their families can choose to file their tax returns electronically. If they select direct deposit they could receive their refunds in as little as one week.

Electronically filing is the preparation, transmission, and processing of tax information completely by computer. It is faster and more accurate than mailing a tax return because return information is transmitted over telephone lines directly to an Internal Revenue Service computer, where it's automatically checked for errors and missing information.

"The error rate of electronic filing returns is less than one percent, while the error rate of paper returns is generally 18 percent or higher," said Cindy Bolduc, Electronic Filing Coordinator. "We usually bring back refunds totaling more than $1 million for the Eielson community."

The legal office will be holding their annual 1040EZ Walk-in Day 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 23 for anyone filing a 1040EZ in the 354th Fighter Wing courtroom, third floor of Amber Hall. No appointments are necessary and this will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Refunds should be received approximately Feb. 6. All who qualify are encouraged to participate.

To have taxes done, bring W-2 and any bank statements with interest amounts. To opt for direct deposit, bring a cancelled check. Ms. Bolduc said that the 354th FW legal office usually electronically files about 80 returns during walk-in day.

The legal office will also be filing 1040EZs on a walk-in basis, 12:30 to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning Jan. 26.

All other individuals desiring to electronically file more complicated returns, such as 1040A and 1040, must first go through their Unit's Tax Advisor. Their UTA will make an appointment for them to file free of charge at the legal office.

The following are Unit Tax Advisors:

354th Force Support Squadron
-Staff Sgt. Talisa Arnold: 377-1925
-Senior Airman Amanda Tyler: 377-2273
-Tracey Coy: 377-1959 

354th Maintenance Group
-Airman 1st Class Christopher Cacciatore: 377-5022
-Senior Airman Justin Cosson: 377-1833
-Airman 1st class Carlos Guzman: 377-1833
-Tech. Sgt. Brian Kilpatrick: 377-4089
-Staff Sgt. Mindy Anderson: 377-1492
-Airman 1st Class Marina Parker: 377-1881
-Airman 1st Class Levi Pratt: 377-1439 

Clear Air Force Station
-Staff Sgt. Joseph Brunsvold: 585-6313
-Tech. Sgt. Jamie Kurzenberger: 585-6884 

354th Civil Engineering Squadron
-Staff Sgt. Michael Huntington: 377-4043
-Tech. Sgt. Brian Jolly: 377-3321
-1st Lt. Jesse White: 377-1150 

354th Medical Group
-Staff Sgt. Jenny Johnson: 377-6671 

354th Contracting Squadron 
-Staff Sgt. Amy Birdsong: 377-6895
-1st Lt. Jordan Omstead: 377-6895 

354th Security Forces Squadron
-Tech. Sgt. Christopher Howard: 377-2933 

354th Communications Squadron
-Tech. Sgt. Bradley Kuehn: 377-1225 

354th Logistics Readiness Squadron
-Tech. Sgt. Patrick Hambly: 377-4190
-Staff Sgt. Temeka Simmons: 377-0211
-Staff Sgt. LaSheena Jasmin: 377-2064