Free
income tax assistance is available in the Coast Guard and the other branches of
the U.S. Armed Forces at many Coast Guard Legal Offices, military Legal
Assistance Offices, and at various units through the Volunteer Income Tax
Assistance (VITA) Program. Volunteer unit tax advisers are available during the
tax season of February 11, 2008 through April 15, 2008. Most Coast Guard Legal
Offices and unit tax advisers offer this free service by appointment only. The
service is available to all active-duty military members, military retirees,
reservists, dependents, and Coast Guard civilian employees. To schedule an
appointment contact the nearest military Legal Assistance Office and ask to
speak the Tax Officer. To schedule an appointment with your local volunteer
unit tax adviser, please contact the individual volunteer directly. Each VITA
volunteer has been trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
to assist in the preparation of Forms 1040 EZ, 1040A, and 1040. A list of Coast
Guard VITA contacts can be found below.
Documents Needed for Appointment The documents you need to bring to your tax appointment include the following: last year's federal income tax return, your W-2 wage and earning statement, Form 1099 bank interest statements (if any), social security numbers for all dependents you are claiming on this year's tax return, information on Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) you contributed to last year or plan to contribute to by April 15th (if any), information on any child care expenses you paid last year, alimony information (if any), Mortgage interest statement (if any), and any other financial information from the tax year such as investment statements, medical expenses, and charitable contribution records. Also, we request you fill out this Tax Assistance Request Form and bring it with you.
Federal
and State Depart of Revenue/Tax Office Websites can be found at
tax
links. Taxpayers can call the IRS for answers to tax questions and to order
forms at (800) 829-1040. Federal income tax forms, instructions, and
publications are also available on the
IRS website. Most state governments
also maintain websites where you can obtain state income tax information,
publications, and forms. These state tax office web pages can be found at
tax
links. Many federal and state income tax forms and publications are available
in most USCG Legal Offices, on the web, or at local post offices or
libraries.
First
District Tax Program Information
5th District Tax Program Information
Eighth District Tax Program
Information