(This information is provided by March ARB’s Staff Judge Advocate office.)
March Air Reserve Base does not have a Volunteer Income Tax Center on base this year. In lieu of the VITA Center, you can file your taxes for free or get free tax assistance online through Military One Source. The service is free to military and their dependents (and other qualifying individuals). Follow the steps below to do so.
Step 1: You can access the Military OneSource website at www.militaryonesource.mil.
Upon entering the Military OneSource website and landing on the Home page the member should click on the hyperlink provided in the section titled “Are you ready for tax season?”
Step 2: The hyperlink will take you to the Military OneSource Taxes page where they can click on the ‘FILE NOW’ radio button.
Step 3: That will take you to the DOD Notice and Consent page to begin the login process. Enter your Military OneSource User ID and password. (If you are accessing the Military OneSource website for the first time you should follow the prompts after clicking on ‘Register Now’ link. If you have any login problems that cannot be resolved by clicking on ‘forgot your user ID? or ‘forgot your password?’ you should contact the Military Community and Family Policy Helpdesk at 888-363-6431 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. You can also click on the Support button to submit a Support Request Form.
Step 4: Once you have successfully logged on to the Military OneSource Tax services launch page, you need to answer by clicking the ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ radio button for the question: Are you preparing your tax return at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) location?
Answer the remaining questions, which not only provide demographic data, but determine the installation and specific number for that VITA location if that applies. Unique URLs have been associated with each installation. When you click on ‘Continue to Tax Services’ the installations unique URL is used to navigate to the H&R Block software.
Step 5: You should follow the instructions on the H&R Block ‘Sign In’ screen to sign in or create an account. For technical assistance (log-in issues, using the software, printing returns, etc.), please call 855-897-8639 and follow the prompts.
VITA/TCE information
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to people who generally make $53,000 or less, persons with disabilities, the elderly and limited English speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
In addition to VITA, the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) program offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those who are 60 years of age and older, specializing in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors. The IRS-certified volunteers who provide tax counseling are often retired individuals associated with non-profit organizations that receive grants from the IRS.
VITA/TCE locations
Visit http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers to locate the nearest operating VITA office.
AARP information
The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free, individualized tax preparation for low-to moderate-income taxpayers – especially those 60 and older – at more than 5,000 locations nationwide.
AARP locations
Visit http://www.aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchTaxAideLocations.action to location the nearest operating AARP office.
On base
The March Main Exchange has tax preparation available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday on an appointment or walk-in basis. For more information contact Monica Phillippi at 909-709-8316 or 951-354-5022.
