JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
Filing taxes does not have to be a daunting process if properly prepared.
The Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, Tax Center offers the following tips to help JBLE community members get ready for tax season.
1. Get organized- Know what information needs to be reported to the IRS. "If it made you money during the year, or you lost money on it, you should have documentation," says U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Timothy Lewis, 633rd Air Base Wing Legal Office noncommissioned officer in charge of the Tax Center. This includes, but is not limited to: retirement plans, W-2s, stock dividends and interest received.
2. JBLE Tax Center- Volunteers are on-hand to help JBLE community members prepare their taxes free of charge. Services include preparing and filing taxes and assisting with tax filing preparations should you choose to file independently. Appointments can be made Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m to 3:30 p.m.
3. Avoid these mistakes- According to Lewis, the two biggest mistakes people make when filing their own taxes are leaving out information that needs to be reported to the IRS, and not being aware of what credits apply to them which could result in a larger refund.
4. Seek a second set of eyes- As stated in tip three 3, mistakes can be costly when filing taxes independently. A tax preparer will review tax return documents to ensure everything is there. "When people do it themselves, they forget things that they did during the year," he says. "A preparer is red-flagging things saying, 'this is missing, or do you have documentation for this.'"
5. Be careful using tax software programs- Make sure the software program being used is reputable. Lewis warns of programs not vetted by the IRS and an increasing number of "fake" programs resulting in people's identities being stolen. Contact the Tax Center to find out how retired and active duty military members can use programs at no cost.
6. Make an appointment with a tax preparer sooner rather than later- Waiting too long to meet with a tax preparer can result in consequences including not receiving a refund sooner or not filing by the deadline. "The closer you get to your deadline, the less time you have to pay back the IRS, if you end up owing," says Lewis. He said crunch time at the Tax Center is the last two weeks before the filing deadline. He advises people to not wait until the last minute to make an appointment as tax return preparers may not be available.
7. How to maximize your refund- "No one is looking out for you better than you, except your brethren," said Lewis, of his personal belief. "When you come in to see [the Tax Center], we're here to help you get as much back as you possibly can within the federal limitations and guidelines." Other ways Lewis says refunds can be maximized are, contributions to retirement funds, such as a TSP, charitable donations, itemized deductions and having children. Filling out W-2s correctly is important, too. "If you're not giving back to the government a significant amount, then you're not going to get much back at the end of the year, said Lewis."
8. It's okay to file for an extension- If filing taxes on time does not look like a possibility, file for an extension as soon as possible. Lewis says he has found the IRS to be "pretty generous" when given a reason for an extension.
9. What to do with a refund- While it may be tempting to take that refund and splurge on something fun, as an NCO who has had Airmen with money troubles, Lewis recommends putting that money into a TSP or savings account. "When you really need that money and you really have nowhere else to go, that's where it's going to help you the most."
For more information, contact the Tax Center's Langley office at 225-5777 or the Ft. Eustis office at 878-2478. More tax tips can also be found on the JBLE website and Facebook page.