For those who are feeling a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of filing their taxes, help is right around the corner.
Army Reserve Maj. Stephen Funderburk, who is heading up the Fort Lewis Tax Center, said his staff is ready to dive into tax season and offer free help.
"Our tax center offers free federal and state tax preparation services to Soldiers, dependents and retirees," Funderburk said.
The Fort Lewis Tax Center is run by the Army JAG Corps and is its top legal assistance program with regard to the number of people who receive services, he said.
When it opens Wednesday, the center will provide services from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"Our center is staffed by 15 IRS certified tax preparers, all local Soldiers and two Army DA civilians, who volunteered to complete the training and are looking forward to helping other Soldiers with their taxes," Funderburk said.
The tax preparation services should be a benefit to nearly everyone who comes through the door, he said.
"We are governed by both IRS and Army regulations, which is another way of saying that we can't help everybody, but I feel we can help most people who need tax preparation assistance," Funderburk said. "We are an approved IRS e-file Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site, so the vast majority of returns will be electronically filed as soon as they are prepared and approved by the taxpayer."
Filers need to bring their bank direct-deposit information - account and routing numbers - to use the services, he said.
"The e-file system considerably speeds up the receipt of any refunds that may be coming their way," Funderburk said.
People needing assistance should bring their military IDs and Social Security cards for all persons who will be listed on the returns, including dependents.
"We also need a legible copy of the W-2, and any interest income forms they receive from their banks or other financial institutions, such as 1099 and 1098 forms," he said.
Bank information, including income statements and direct deposit information, are important to have handy, Funderburk said.
Also filers should have a record of child care expenses, medical expenses, charitable contributions, any real estate transaction information, divorce records and last year's federal and state tax return, he said.
Being prepared and knowing what to bring will help ease the process, Funderburk said.
Some circumstances will receive special consideration.
In general, Soldiers who are deployed during the tax season have an additional 180 days after they return stateside to file their taxes, so they need not worry while downrange about getting their taxes filed, he said.
"However, any spouse who wants to get their family's taxes done even while their wife or husband is deployed, and has a power of attorney governing tax preparation, can certainly come in and get their taxes done," Funderburk said.
Captain Justin Lonergan said the Tax Office on McChord Air Force Base offers mostly similar services. McChord's Tax Center will also kick off operations Jan. 20.
Lonergan said this year the office is focusing on getting junior enlisted Soldiers to take advantage of the service.
"One thing we've been focusing on is capturing junior Airmen and Soldiers," Lonergan said.
The number of civilian and military personnel manning the center will vary, he said.
"It's really going to be demand based," Lonergan said.
The center's staff is prepared to assist Airmen with a full range of tax-related issues, he said.
"We have a few layers to our tax center," Lonergan said. "The most important part is just making sure they've brought everything."
Those personnel who have questions about how a deployment might affect filing their taxes can find answers close at hand, he said.
"If somebody has that situation, they should contact legal," Lonergan said.
Where to go for tax assistance