Tax time: free processing Published Feb. 3, 2016 By Senior Airman Solomon Cook 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- With the April 15 deadline to file taxes rapidly approaching, Airmen may not know where to begin, nor want to deal with the hassle. To alleviate stress, the professionals of the 325th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate's office have brought together trained and certified volunteers to help with tax filing. Starting Feb. 2, the Tax Center will be preparing taxes for Airmen ranging from E-1 to E-4. Starting Feb. 18, the Tax Center will be preparing taxes for all active duty Airman, as long as returns are within the scope of the center. That is, if the return is not over complex. Starting March 7, the tax center will be preparing returns for all qualifying individuals, to include retirees. "Taxes will be prepared by volunteers of the Tyndall community," said Capt. Matthew Pellegrine, 325th FW/JA chief of legal assistance. "We have a great mix of Airmen and civilians who are dedicated to helping our clients." All volunteers received training and must pass a series of tests before they can prepare taxes. Furthermore, volunteers are assigned clients based on their level of expertise and the difficulty of the client's return, Pellegine added. Although the tax center provides free tax services, there are limitations to the complexity of tax work they can do. "Typically, all Airmen are eligible for the service," Pellegrine said. "However, there are cases where returns would be outside of the scope of our center. When individuals call to make an appointment, we ask several questions to determine if the client would be better served by going to a 'paid preparer.' We do this in cases where the return would be highly complex. We also will prepare returns for retirees as long as the return fits the scope of our program." Airmen and their family may call the tax center to obtain more information and take the appropriate actions to complete the task. "Clients call the tax center at (850) 283-1829," Pellegrine said. "They will speak to one of our trained representatives and will schedule an appointment. Hours vary depending on the availability of our volunteers. Our representative will collect some information from the client and will provide them with a list of items and documents to bring with them." After the appointment has been set, clients will collect the proper documentation and follow the proper directions stated below: · Clients schedule an appointment · Gather all pertinent information and documentation. - photo identification - social security cards - W-2s and Form 1099s - Clients claiming dependents be required to bring the social security card of the individual · Clients then show up about 15 minutes early for their appointment. This allows them to complete our intake questionnaire. "Clients will then go over the questionnaire with our volunteer preparer," Pellegrine said. "Once the tax processor has all the information necessary, they will prepare the return. When they are finished, a certified quality reviewer will double check their work before we have the client sign it. Once the tax return is complete and has been reviewed, we submit it electronically." The length of the appointment depends on the complexity of the return. If the return is simple with only a W-2, the process will be very short. Typically appointments will last about an hour, Pellegrine added. For information on the tax center, contact (850) 283-1829.