Volunteers sought for 2017 tax season

  • Published
  • By Amy Rollins
  • Skywrighter Staff
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has a proud tradition of supporting the active-duty and military retiree population with a robust Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Last year, the VITA program helped 1,532 clients recover approximately $3.7 million in federal and state refunds. The program also helped these clients save more than $580,000 in tax preparation fees.

 

This year, the program hopes to surpass those statistics, said Capt. Kristian Diggs, Wright-Patterson AFB Tax Center OIC.

 

“The level of manpower/volunteer support that we get will affect how many clients we can serve,” she said. “Even if it’s 1,533, we want to surpass last year’s total.”

 

Diggs said those who do volunteer will see the instant impact of giving back.

 

“As service members we can get commercial tax help, but being able to help your fellow wingman or being a wingman to your neighbors is what we’re really all about,” she said. “Being able to sit down face-to-face and being able to help each other in an area such as tax returns is a great opportunity to help your fellow wingman.”

 

In order to continue this important program and offer the same amount of tax services to clients, unit members are encouraged to volunteer as VITA representatives. The amount of volunteer support obtained will dictate the Tax Center’s services.

 

Further, inadequate volunteer support may limit tax services to members the grade of E-4 and below. This limitation would require all other members to use web-based or commercial tax preparation services.

 

The individuals who volunteer as VITA representatives will be required to become certified tax preparers by passing a basic certification test after completing an Internal Revenue Service online program or in-person training Jan. 9-13, 2017. After certification, volunteers will have a commitment of 60 hours during the 12 weeks of the VITA program, generally fulfilled by one five-hour shift per week.

 

Members interested in volunteering as VITA representatives should submit their name, office symbol, e-mail and duty phone number via email to Capt. Kristian Diggs, Wright-Patterson Tax Center OIC, at kristian.diggs.1@us.af.mil, by Nov. 30.

 

For questions, contact the base legal office at 257-6142.