Tax Center concentrates on serving clients, saving fees

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base’s Tax Center is providing tax preparation services to active-duty members, retirees and dependents continuing through April 6.

The center, in Bldg. 70, Door 6, Area A, opened Feb. 1 and is serving E-4 and below via walk-in appointments through Feb. 16.

Starting Feb. 20, the Tax Center will be open to military members, retirees and dependents by appointment only. Appointments may be made by calling the center at 937-656-1423.

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; appointments are scheduled for an hour and a half each. The final appointment of the day is at 3 p.m.

Services are being provided by volunteers, many of whom have years of experience working at the center, said Senior Airman Zachary Cinnamon.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in retirees coming in,” he said. “The word is getting out. We are booked through the first week of March.”

The program saves individuals money.

In 2016, the Tax Center helped the base community prepare 1,234 federal and state returns, saving individuals more than $480,000 in tax preparation fees and returning $2.5 million in state and federal tax returns to individuals.

“Our program gives us a rough estimate of what we are saving people,” Cinnamon said. “People see the number and are astonished by what they would be paying somewhere else.”

The Tax Center’s accessibility in being on base also is an advantage, he noted.

“I’m really proud of everyone who is working here,” said Capt. Timothy Shaw, assistant staff judge advocate in the 88th Air Base Wing Legal Office, which is running the Tax Center. “We have a strong contingent of retirees and active-duty members who are ready and willing to help individuals with their taxes.”

For more information, contact Shaw at timothy.shaw.16@us.af.mil.

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