JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Across the country, millions of Service members and their families are collecting their financial records to crunch numbers for annual income tax filing season. While some people may know their way around a Form 1040 fairly easily, others break into a sweat when it comes to properly filling out the bevy of forms, maximizing their refunds, managing deductions, and avoiding an audit.
The U.S. military prides itself on taking care of its people, and the Joint Base Langley-Eustis Tax Centers serve as a prominent example.
The centers, open at both Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis, employ approximately 30 volunteers, including Soldiers, Airmen and civilians, as tax preparers. These volunteers receive training and certification through the Internal Revenue Service's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA program.
The JBLE Tax Centers provide free tax preparation service for the military community, including active duty Service members, retirees and their dependents.
U.S. Air Force Capt. Charles Grotewohl, the JBLE Tax Center officer in charge, said the goal is to minimize the cost and stress of tax preparation on military members and families.
"A lot of people get nervous when it comes time to file their taxes. Whether it's something they've always had a parent or spouse do in the past, or they're just not sure how to file properly while getting the best possible refund, we are here to assist them," the captain said. "Our volunteers are well-trained, and will help our customers sift through the paperwork to finish the process.
"Our Service members work extremely hard every day, and our family members continue to make sacrifices to help us continue to be successful," he continued. "Getting them through this process and saving them time and money is the least we can do to give back to them."
The centers' volunteers echoed the captain's sentiment, saying they enjoy the opportunity to help fellow Service members.
"Doing taxes is something everyone has to do. Being able to be here and get to know members of the community on a more personal level is very rewarding," said U.S. Army Spc. Racie Hutchins, a volunteer tax specialist at the Fort Eustis tax center.
Ever since Hutchins made costly errors while filing her taxes years ago, she was determined to volunteer her efforts to help people avoid similar mistakes. She began volunteering with the VITA program eight years ago, serving the last five of those years in the Army.
"The IRS isn't the big bad guy people sometimes make them out to be. When I needed help with my taxes, they brought me in and helped me out," she explained. "VITA gave me the opportunity to help out other people who needed a hand with doing their taxes, and I continue to take advantage of that opportunity."
The JBLE Tax Centers offer services by appointment only. The centers will operate weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., through April 18. The Langley AFB center is located at 402 Helms Ave. To schedule an appointment, call 225-5777. The Fort Eustis center is located at 2733 Madison Avenue. To schedule an appointment, call 878-2343. For a list of documents to bring to your appointment, directions to the centers, and more information, visit
www.jble.af.mil/units/airforceunits/langleylaw/langleytaxcenter/index.asp.