VITA helps with tax preparation

Published Feb. 4, 2009
By Staff Judge Advocate Office
21st Space Wing

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The 21st Space Wing Staff Judge Advocate Office Tax Center currently offers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program to assist servicemembers, retirees and their dependents with tax preparation.

Over 30 individuals volunteered and received training to assist in the preparation of taxes throughout the Peterson Complex, Cheyenne Mountain and Thule Air Base, Greenland.

For members who have only W2s, a drop-off service is available. W2s may be dropped off with a representative at the Base Legal Office, Bldg. 350, Room 2068. No appointments are needed, but required documents must be available. Members should complete a questionnaire at the time of drop off and will be notified via e-mail or phone call to come back, pick up their tax return and sign to have it e-filed as desired. This service is only for those individuals filing a 1040EZ.

If an appointment with a VITA representative is desired, appointments are available 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday - Friday. For more information about the program or to locate your unit VITA representatives, contact the 21st SW/JA at 556-4871.

Tax preparation is provided free of charge to all active duty and retired military as well as their dependants.

Required documents for VITA include:
Military ID card, social security cards for all tax payers and dependents, names and dates of birth for all dependents, W-2 forms - wages, 1099-R - retirement income (if applicable), W-2G forms - gambling income (if applicable), 1099-INT and 1099-OID - interest income (if applicable), 1099-DIV - dividend income (if applicable), 1099-MISC - miscellaneous income including rents (if applicable), 1098s - e.g., sent by Mortgage Company (if applicable), charitable donations receipts (if applicable), casualty or theft losses receipts (if applicable), medical deductions receipts (if applicable), sale of your home - purchase settlement statements; sale settlement statements; improvement expenses (if applicable), voided check for direct deposit (used to verify bank routing no. and account no.)