DATE: January 15, 2020 11:38:45 AM CST

Fort Leonard Wood tax center to open Jan. 27

Public Affairs Office

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (Jan. 15, 2020) – The Fort Leonard Wood tax center is scheduled to be open Jan. 27 through the end of April, and offers free tax return preparation for active-duty service members, retirees and their dependent family members.

Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome during operating hours. The tax center is located at 316 Missouri Ave, Building 315.

All tax center staff are qualified to the advanced level on the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. In 2019, they filed a total of 4,159 returns resulting in a total refund amount of $4,333,356.

Customers who would like to file jointly with a spouse should know that both individuals must sign to file electronically.

While the tax center’s goal is to assist as many eligible individuals as possible, there are certain types of tax returns that the tax center is not authorized to handle. Taxpayers with complex situations, such as owning rental properties, should call for advice on how to proceed.

All customers should bring:

— Proof of eligibility for services;

— Social Security Cards for everyone named on the tax return;

— Birth dates for everyone named on the tax return;

— Wage and earning statements from employers;

— Interest and dividend statements from banks;

— A copy of last year’s federal and state returns;

— Bank account routing and account numbers for direct deposit;

— Proof of health insurance;

— Copies of income transcripts from IRS and state, if applicable;

— Completed client intake form (provided by the tax center).

Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays (with an 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. lunch break) and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first and third Saturdays of each month. For questions about documents or the scope of tax center services, call Capt. Amber Bunch at 573.596.0322 or 0629.

(Editor’s note: Information for this article was submitted by the Fort Leonard Wood tax center.)

Sherry Hopkins, a volunteer tax preparer on Fort Leonard Wood for six years, goes over an Internal Revenue Service test booklet with first-time tax preparer Pfc. Leyla Atieno as the post’s tax center finalizes preparations for their first customers Jan. 27. (Photo Credit: Brian Hill)

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About Fort Leonard Wood

Fort Leonard Wood is a thriving and prosperous installation that has evolved from a small basic training post more than 75 years ago to a premier Army Center of Excellence that trains more than 80,000 military and civilians each year.

Fort Leonard Wood is home to the U.S Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and three U.S. Army schools: the U.S. Army Engineer School; U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. In addition to training engineer, CBRN and military police specialties for the Army, Fort Leonard Wood also provides gender-integrated in-processing and Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers.

Fort Leonard Wood also hosts and trains with the largest Marine Corps Detachment and Air Force Squadron on any Army installation as well as a large Navy construction detachment.

More information about Fort Leonard Wood is at: https://home.army.mil/wood/index.php/about/mission