HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Team Hurlburt,
Tax season is already here and W-2s are available on MyPay. There are resources available for military families to ease the process of filing.
In order to take advantage of the many free and low-cost tax prep options the Hurlburt Field tax program will move from operating a traditional tax center to a self-service model.
The intent of the military tax centers is to assist the junior members of our team with filing relatively simple taxes. There are now a number of very intuitive, free and self-help options now available to the Hurlburt field community, in addition to the traditional full-service tax preparation services available commercially. This year's tax program will focus on making people aware of these self-service resources. We will have a self-help tax center, which will utilize self-service kiosks that will have trained tax volunteers for over-the-shoulder help as needed. Those that take advantage of these self-service options (discussed below) will become more aware of their own tax situation and able to maximize their own tax returns in the future.
Below are some outstanding free services available that can help you file your taxes:
FOR ALL ACTIVE DUTY. Active duty members and their families can now log-on to militaryonesource.mil, register, and file both federal and state tax forms for free. http://www.militaryonesource.mil/pfm?content_id=268827.
Trained tax consultants are available seven days a week from 8 AM to 10 PM EST at 800-342-9647, with extended hours during tax season. These tax consultants can also assist you later in the event of an IRS tax audit.
MILITARY RETIREES. Military retirees with an annual income of less than $62,000 can file for free at http://www.unitedway.org/myfreetaxes. Live chat and call in assistance is available. For those whose income exceeds the limit, some fees may apply.
SELF-SERVICE TAX CENTER. Those that would like, may utilize our self-help tax-filing kiosks, which will be located at building 90320, which is the same building as the Airmen's Attic, Okaloosa Tax Collector's Office, and Drug Demand Reduction. The Tax Center hours are 11 AM to 3 PM, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday starting Feb. 1 - April 14, 2016. The kiosks will consist of a computer, and volunteers who can answer questions to aid filers in utilizing the services provided by Military One Source and Unitedway.org.
The kiosks will be available by walking-in anytime between 11 AM and 3 PM starting Feb. 1, 2016. When utilizing this option, please bring all tax documents such as W-2s, 1098s (education, interest, mortgage points), and 1095 (Affordable Care Act documentation).
DORM OUTREACH. For Airmen living in the Dorms, we will have information on our tax program posted in the dorms with phone numbers to call for tax advice to ensure our dorm residents are getting the support they need.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT REQUIREMENTS. This is the first year it is mandatory to prove you had health insurance. Proof for Active Duty members can be located on my pay. Proof of coverage for TRICARE members can be found on TRICARE's website. For all others, contact your health insurance providers. Paper statements should also be mailed to all covered personnel.
WE STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS! We are hoping to get more volunteers to be trained and provide tax assistance at the tax center from Feb. 1 - April 15, 2016. This is a great way to show your support for the base community. If you are interested in volunteering, please email 1SOW.CVLAW@us.af.mil.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we transition to a self-service model that has been adopted by many military installations worldwide.