VITA takes stress out of tax season Published Jan. 22, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Suzanne Northern 436 AW Legal Office DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- With W-2s scheduled to be released to the MyPay Web site Jan. 23, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is spinning up to help Dover military members, retirees and family members file their taxes at no cost. VITA has 22 volunteers to assist Airmen with filing returns and answering any basic tax questions they may have. Appointments can be scheduled through unit tax representatives Feb. 3 - April 13. Each year, VITA volunteers attend a week-long training course conducted by the Internal Revenue Service to learn the basics of filing income taxes. They are required to pass a test to become a certified VITA representative to ensure they are qualified to file basic tax returns. VITA volunteers are trained to assist with small returns that do not include selling of property, rentals or more complex returns for those individuals who have private businesses and excessive capital gains or losses. By filing electronically, refunds are usually paid 10 - 14 business days from when the return is filed. To prevent processing delays in paper returns and rejected electronically-filed returns, volunteers check the accuracy of each Social Security Number, as well as the spelling of the name associated with the number. Members who do not have a SSN for themselves or a dependent, should complete Form SS-5, Social Security Number Application, which needs to be submitted to the nearest Social Security Administration Office. Members should retain copies of their completed tax returns for a minimum of three years in the event they are audited by the IRS. VITA volunteers do not keep copies of tax returns. The following items are required to file a 2008 tax return: - Social Security Cards for member, spouse and dependents or a Social Security number verification letter issued by the Social Security Administration - Birth dates for members, spouses and dependents on the tax return - Current year's tax package (if received) - Wage and earning statement Forms W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers - Form 1099, interest and dividend statements from banks - A copy of last year's federal and state returns (if available) - Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit Schedule an appointment with the following Dover UTRs through April 13: 436th Mission Support Group: 1st Lt. Lidia Iyassu - 677-6090 2nd Lt. Aaron Baney - 677-4713 Master Sgt. Avelino Nahil - 677-5178 Master Sgt. Michael Bacu - 677-5896 Master Sgt. Rashae Elmore - 677-4981 Tech. Sgt. Sharif Ahmed - 677-5913 Tech. Sgt. Joseph Nicolai - 677-4900 Tech. Sgt. Casey Waithe - 677-4991 Senior Airman Shalin Amin - 677-3466 Donna Lamos - 677-6591 Karen Zurzolo - 677-6969 436th Maintenance Group Master Sgt. Margaret Arrasmith - 677-5929 Tech. Sgt. Michael Wissinger - 677-5606 Tech. Sgt. Jeb Ritchie - 677-5581 Airman Colin Hackett - 677-5666 436th Operations Group 1st Lt. Gabriel Wetlesen - 677-3555 Master Sgt. Oscar Perez - 677-6351 436th AW and Retirees Staff. Sgt. Suzanne Northern - 677-5086 Staff Sgt. Jennifer McIntyre - 677-4650 Catherine Florczak - 677-3300 512th Airlift Wing Michelle Anderson - 677-6823