It's tax time! Self-Help Tax Center to open Feb. 5 Published Feb. 9, 2015 By U.S. Air Force Warfare Center Judge Advocate Office NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- This year, the tax center has evolved into a self-help service center. What does that mean for Airmen assigned to Nellis and Creech AFBs? They can use one of the kiosks located at the tax center to prepare and file their taxes online with limited assistance from volunteers. The Self-Help Tax Center will open Feb. 5 and remain open until April 15 -- the last day income taxes can be filed without being assessed a penalty or additional interest. The Self-Help Tax Center will be located at the Desert Oasis Club ballroom in building 324 and will function on a walk-in basis only. Hours of operation will be posted later this month on the Nellis AFB website and marquee. The self-help concept promotes financial accountability and teaches Airmen how to prepare their own taxes -- an important and enduring life skill. Active duty, guardsmen and Reserve service members, as well as spouses and dependent children authorized in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, will use http://www.militaryonesource.mil in the Self-Help Tax Center to complete their taxes. While retirees may use the kiosks at the Self-Help Tax Center to access the IRS Free File program if their income is less than $60,000, they are encouraged to visit local tax preparation sites in order to receive personalized tax preparation services. Visit http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers to find the IRS tax center nearest to you or call 1 888-227-7669. To complete a tax return at the Self-Help Tax Center, bring the following documents, as applicable: - Social Security number and date of birth for you, your spouse and dependents - W-2 forms for you and your spouse - Investment income forms such as the 1099-R - Child care, education and adoption costs - Alimony information - Social Security benefits - Miscellaneous income - Form 1098-E for student loan interest - Charitable donations - Uninsured medical and dental expenses - Real estate taxes - Receipts for other deductible expenses - Bank account information for any refund you may receive The Self-Tax Center is staffed by volunteers who are not tax professionals. Volunteers are active duty, retirees or civilians and are not trained for, nor will they be able to assist anyone outside of the scope of simple tax questions. If you have investments, rental properties, a personal business, limited partnerships, casualty or theft losses or foreign investments, you are strongly encouraged to seek the advice and services of a tax professional. If you are deploying to a combat zone, participating in a qualifying contingency operation or have qualifying service outside a combat zone before April 15, 2015, the deadline for filing tax returns, paying taxes, filing claims for refund or other actions taken by the IRS is automatically extended. Visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3.pdf for more information and to see if you qualify for an automatic extension. Alternatively, if you don't want to wait to file, you can grant a power of attorney to someone so they can file your taxes on your behalf. For more information on the Self-Help Tax Center, please contact the Nellis AFB Legal Office at 702-682-5407, option 2.
