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Volunteers provide tax services for Airmen, families

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Brandon Valle
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  The F.E. Warren community is offered free tax services for the personnel (military and civilian employees), retirees and their dependents each year; however this year, Laramie County Community College will be hosting the services.

"The base tax center was moved to LCCC this year due to the decrease in manning in our legal office," said Staff Sgt. Shawn Villalobos, 90th Missile Wing Judge Advocate non-commissioned officer-in-charge. "We simply could not support the tax center this year."

LCCC will offer tax services for military Thursdays from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and Fridays from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. until April 10.

"The best benefit of the tax center is it's free for military personnel," Villalobos said.

The program at LCCC is run by volunteers who are trained by the Internal Revenue Service to assist in tax preparation. The volunteers come from the base community, from active duty military to spouses and retirees. 

"We spent four days getting trained on taxes," said Master Sgt. Michelle Martin, 90th Operations Group admin supervisor. "We have an IRS point of contact we work with, [who is] a senior tax consultant in Cheyenne."

Not all volunteers are comfortable with doing someone's taxes, Martin said. Those not comfortable will be doing customer service jobs, such as welcoming people and providing the initial explanation of the forms people will need.

Martin recommends junior NCOs and Airmen bring their taxes to LCCC to make sure they are done right.

"Anyone who is not sure about their own taxes should come see us," she said. "We will sit down and talk with you, see what you've got, see how hard it is and see what we can do."

Some cases may be unable to be helped at the LCCC tax center, including those who own a business, are part of a corporation, or those who have had housing issues this past year.

"When coming to get your taxes done, be sure to bring the necessary items," Martin said. "Bring any W-2 forms, your social security card, any documents turned into the IRS, documents on educational expenses, anything that has a monetary value. If you are not sure, bring it in."

Martin adds that any paperwork brought in will leave with the individual; nothing will be kept besides the tax forms. 

Besides the tax center, there are a number of computer-based programs available on www.militaryonesource.com.

"It's best people do some research and choose the program that's best for them," Villalobos said.

No appointments are necessary, all walk-ins are accepted.