TAX ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES

The military also has a strong Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. The Armed Forces Tax Council (AFTC) consists of the tax program coordinators for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.  The AFTC oversees the operation of the military tax programs worldwide, and serves as the main conduit for outreach by the IRS to military personnel and their families.

Marines, airmen, soldiers, sailors, and guardsmen, and their families worldwide receive free tax preparation assistance at offices within their installations.  These VITA sites provide free tax advice, tax preparation, and assistance to military members and their families.  They are trained and equipped to address military specific tax issues, such as combat zone tax benefits and the effect of the new Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) guidelines.  The military tax programs generated over 332,988 electronic 2005 federal income tax returns. 

Commanders support the program by detailing service members to prepare returns and by providing space and equipment for tax centers. The IRS supports these efforts by providing tax software and by training service members to prepare taxes at the military sites. 

Most service members file their tax returns electronically at their tax centers and, by selecting direct deposit, receive their refunds in as little as one week. This combined effort ensures that service members receive free tax assistance from well-trained and equipped military tax preparers.