Tax center on base now open Published Feb. 14, 2014 By Senior Airman Cortney Paxton 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Tax season is in full swing, and while some people welcome W-2s, 1040EZs and other tax forms with open arms - in hopes of getting a generous refund - some may not be as motivated. Whether it's the cost of filing taxes, the confusing deductible eligibilities, lack of tax knowledge or even frustrating computer issues that stall Airmen from filing their taxes, there's a worry-free and cost-free tax filing option for all of them - Malmstrom's Tax Center. "The tax center is a place where we can prepare returns for active-duty personnel, retirees and basically anybody else who is eligible for legal assistance," said Capt. Clayton Cox, 341st Missile Wing Judge Advocate's Office chief of legal assistance and preventative law, and tax center site coordinator. "Anyone can get on TurboTax and do their own tax returns, but [the tax center volunteers], with a little bit more training, can help them get their taxes done right and they can feel more comfortable with it and not have to pay a lot of money for a return. Granted, there are a few that we can't do and they'll have to pay to get it done - or they should get more professional help if they have more complicated return situations - but a lot of people on base, especially the Airmen, we can help them do it and they can know that it's done and taken care of." The volunteers at the tax center have extensive training on preparing tax returns according to Internal Revenue Service processes. Lynda Sax, an IRS representative, flew up to Malmstrom from Colorado to teach a three-day class on the proper way to file tax returns, and Cox trained the volunteers an additional two days. Along with the training, the volunteers had to pass one of three certification tests put out by the IRS - basic, advanced or specialty certifications. According to Cox, the goal is to have every volunteer advanced certified. The tax center - located in the Grizzly Bend, Room 12 - is open Monday through Thursday from 8 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 to 11 a.m. There is also an evening time slot (for walk-ins only) on Tuesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. for Airmen unable to make it to the tax center during duty hours. "Some people can't get permission to leave work, go over and have their taxes done at the tax center, so we're trying to accommodate them as much as we can," Cox said. "If [Airmen] come in with a complicated tax return, we might have to send them back to set up an appointment. We want to be fluid with the walk-ins and take as many as we can. If we have one that's going to take a long time, we need them to set up an appointment so we can accommodate them and make sure that we're not backlogging our walk-in appointments." Walk-ins are available any time the tax center is open and appointments can be made by calling 731-2878. The tax center is always in need of more volunteers. Any Airmen or dependents interested in becoming a volunteer can still do so by contacting Cox, who will provide them with the certification material and help as much as possible. The tax center works with common-access-card computers, so if enough dependents show interest in volunteering, Cox would try to accommodate them as much as possible. The members of the tax center are available for active-duty members, dependents and retirees who have access to the base. With the fast-paced mission of the base, some people may be unable to visit the tax center while it's open. If this is the case, Cox encourages them to contact him so he can try to make special arrangements. "I know that different shops have different requirements and they might have problems getting their troops over to us, so if supervisors or commanders have concerns about troops being able to get to us during the hours that we have, they can contact me and let me know, and we'll try to make special arrangements for those troops," he said. "For example, if missileers that are being posted right now are having a hard time getting in, we want to make sure they get coverage too, and that they get the benefits of the service. If they have issues like that, questions or special arrangements they'd like us to consider, they can let me know, and I will do what I can to get special groups to go out and help these people, or set up special hours that will help them be able to get their taxes done." Cox can be reached by calling 731-2812. For general questions on the tax center or to set up an appointment, call 731-2878.