Tax center now offering services to all ranks

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Dillon Johnston
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Due to an influx of volunteers, the on-base tax center at Malmstrom Air Force Base is now available for all active-duty and retired Team Malmstrom members, as well as their dependents, to get their taxes done for free.

"When you file your return through the tax center on base, you save money," said Capt. Clayton Cox, 341st Missile Wing assistant staff judge advocate. "Tax center volunteers can prepare federal and state returns free of charge. Also, tax center volunteers have to pass certification tests that ensure they understand important elements of the return, particularly valuable credits."

Located in the legal office, volunteers are available to assist Team Malmstrom members in completing their tax returns without the cost of commercial filing applications. Originally only available to service members E-4 and below and their dependents, the service has been extended base wide.

"We were able to open up the tax center to all active duty personnel and retirees for two reasons - transitioning to a primarily virtual tax center and the volunteer support we've received from a few dedicated Airmen," Cox said. "The willingness of active-duty Airmen to serve as volunteers gave us the needed manpower to open up the tax center to all ranks."

Ensuring taxes are filed every year can result it either getting back a sum of money, or getting a heads up on what a person may owe, both of which can be nice to have.

"It is important for members to file their taxes in order to ensure that they are paying a fair, accurate tax," Cox said. "Failing to file a tax return could lead to missing out on a nice return if you paid too much, or penalties and fees if you didn't pay enough."

In addition to the standard virtual drop-off method of filing, where Airmen simply drop their paperwork at the tax center and wait for it to be filed, the tax center is scheduled to hold a walk-in tax service March 7 at the legal office. This will allow all Team Malmstrom members the opportunity to sit down with a volunteer and have their taxes done in front of them. Taxpayers are required to bring the following items in order to have their taxes filed:

- An identification card
- Their social security card
- All supporting tax documents
- Bank routing and account numbers
- Previous year's return (If applicable)

With more than 90 returns already filed, the tax center has gotten thousands of dollars back into the pockets of Team Malmstrom Airmen. They will remain open until the end of the season, April 15, and will continue filing returns until then.

For more information on the tax center, contact Cox at 731-3503.