Volunteers needed for upcoming tax season

by Capt. S. Daniel Colton
86th Airlift Wing judge advocate

This year’s tax season is almost here and the Ramstein Tax Center team needs help.

The center is looking for volunteers who have a desire to assist others in preparing their taxes. Last year, due in large part to its volunteers, the tax center was able to assist more than 1,400 clients in preparing their tax returns and saved them more than $117,000 in tax filing fees.

Volunteers may be officers, enlisted members, civilian employees, dependents or retirees. The only other requirement is a true desire to help others. No previous tax experience is needed. The tax center will provide all the training needed through online IRS lessons in conjunction with a specialized, yet understandable, course on tax return preparation put on by members of the Ramstein Legal office in early January. 

This informative course will focus on the basics of preparing a return and on specific tax issues taxpayers face living overseas and being associated with the military.

If interested in volunteering as a member of the Ramstein Tax Center team for the upcoming tax season, or for more information about volunteering, send your name and contact information (duty phone and e-mail address) to Senior Airman Shaun Markel at shaun.markel@ramstein.af.mil.