Tax Season: Electronic Filiing, the wave of the future Published Jan. 14, 2008 By Compiled from staff reports 354th Fighter Wing Legal Office EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Eielson Air Force Base's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program has joined forces with the IRS' Electronic Filing Program. For the past several years, not only can one get free assistance in preparing Federal income tax returns, but can also file it electronically for free. Electronically Filing (ELF) 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 your tax return because your 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 - The error rate of ELF returns is less than one percent. However, the error rate of paper returns is generally 18 percent or higher. * IT'S QUICK - Your tax return will be processed quickly because your return information goes straight from you 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 transfer refund amounts right into your personal checking or savings accounts within 10 to 14 days of receiving the return. * FILE NOW, PAY BY APRIL 15 - If you owe a balance, you can file anytime during the tax season but hold off payment until on or before April 15, using Form 1040V, "Payment Voucher." FREE ELECTRONIC FILING at the Base Legal Office: The legal office will be holding their annual 1040EZ walk-in day for anyone filing a 1040EZ. This will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 25, in the 354th Fighter Wing Legal Office's courtroom, 3rd floor, Amber Hall. No appointments are necessary and this will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Refunds should be received approximately Feb. 1. All who qualify are encouraged to participate. All you need to bring are your W-2s and any bank statements with your interest amounts. If you'd like direct deposit, bring a cancelled check. The legal office usually electronically files about 80 returns during this walk-in day. If you are an EZ Filer and you do not make it into the legal office on this day, they will be filing EZs on a walk-in basis, 12:30 to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays beginning Jan. 28. All other individuals desiring to electronically file their more complicated returns (1040A and 1040), must first go through their Unit's Tax Advisor (UTA). Their UTA will make an appointment for them to file free of charge at the Legal Office. The following is a list of the Wing's UTAs who will be offereing free assistance. 354th Force Support Squadron Tech Sgt. Robert Rufer, BLSDM Tech Sgt. Mark Buckles, IG 354th Maintenance Group Tech Sgt. Brian Souza, MXMV Tech Sgt. Clifford Benson, MXALT Staff Sgt. Daniel Nailie, MXQ Senior Airman Jason Matias, MSMWPB Airman 1st Class Kurtis Stadsvold, MXAFS Airman 1st Class Asa Smith, MXG 353rd Combat Training Squadron Tech Sgt. Thomas Davis, RD 354th Civil Engineer Squadron 1st Lt. Jesse White, CECB Staff Sgt. Wayne Hageman, CEOG DET 460 Tech Sgt. Kenneth Alvar, LGO 354th Medical Group Tech Sgt. Christopher Ledgett, SGSAR 354th Security Forces Squadron Tech Sgt. Terry Northcut, SSB Tech Sgt. William Diebold, S3O Staff Sgt. Joshua Aston, S3 354th Communications Squadron Tech Sgt. Bradley Kuehn, SCOA Staff Sgt. Timothy Fagan, SCOO 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron Tech Sgt. Cherie R. Kilpatrick, LGCCT Staff Sgt. Angela Nelson, LGRRW 168th Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Diminian Chagnon, CS Clear AS Maj. Kimberly Faulkner