JB MDL Tax Center prepares to open shop Published Jan. 21, 2014 By Airman 1st Class Sean M. Crowe Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- The Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Tax Center is set to open for business Feb. 3, 2014, here. The tax center staff provides free tax assistance to active-duty service members ranked E-5 or below, retirees and military dependents. Active-duty service members and dependents have priority at the Tax Center; retirees and dependents will be seen on a space-available basis. Attorneys and volunteers will provide assistance filing current and prior-year individual income tax returns throughout the year, according to Air Force Instruction 51-504. "The goal of the Tax Center is to provide young and inexperienced military members a way to save fees they would incur filing taxes with a commercial accountant," said Air Force Staff Sgt. Charlotte Drawdy, JB MDL Legal Office paralegal and Tax Center noncommissioned officer in charge. The Tax Center currently has approximately 40 volunteers and is accepting more. "Volunteering to prepare taxes is an opportunity to provide a valuable service to our military community and to learn a life-long skill set," said Christopher A. Huling, JB MDL Legal Office legal assistance chief. "Preparing taxes is also a chance to meet new people and possibly gain some tax law insight." Volunteers must be certified through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program to assist customers with tax assistance. The VITA program prepares volunteers to address military-specific tax issues. The Tax Center servicing McGuire and Dix is located at 2907 Tuskegee Airmen Ave. and will be open for appointments only, Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Walk-in service will also be offered on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until mid-April. The Tax Center servicing Lakehurst is located at Maloney Inn unaccompanied housing barrack, office 114 and is available for appointments Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Lakehurst Tax Center will accept walk-in appointments on Friday only. To have tax returns prepared on a walk-in basis, community members must: - have an E-5 rank or lower, be a dependent of a military member, or retiree - file as single or married filing jointly - be under 65 years of age and not blind at the end of 2011, unless the person is only taking the standard deduction - not claim dependents - not receive any advanced Earned Income Credit payments - only have wages, salary, tips, taxable scholarships or fellowship grants, unemployment compensation or Alaska permanent fund dividends - not have taxable interest exceeding $1,500 - not claim any adjustments to income - only claim EIC Joint base community members should receive their tax returns approximately two to three weeks after filing their taxes here. Community members must bring the following paperwork to file their 2013 tax return: - Filled out Form 13614-C, "Intake/Interview Quality Review Sheet," one day prior to a scheduled appointment (dropped off or emailed to JBMDLTaxCenter@gmail.com). Clients can find a digital copy of Form 13614-C at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f13614c.pdf - military ID - social Security cards for themselves, spouses and children. - all W-2's. - form 1099. - routing and accounting numbers. Additionally, it is recommended that you bring a copy of last year's tax return to your appointment. Service members and civilians within the joint base community interested in VITA training, becoming a volunteer tax assistant or setting up an appointment should call the Joint Base Legal Office at (609) 754-2010, the McGuire Tax Center at 754-8106 or the Lakehurst Tax Center at (732) 323-1268/7287.