May 8, 2014 -- When the 2013 tax filing season ended April 15, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Office had assisted more than 619 individuals with filing their federal and state taxes.
“The total tax refund for the 2013 tax season was $671,971,” Sgt. Danielle Valles, noncommissioned officer-in-charge, Tax Center, said. “The Tax Center filed 596 federal and state returns, resulting in the saving the tax payer $80,087 in preparation fees.”
The tax season began Jan. 15 with six trained tax assistants from various units on base.
Marines, who volunteered for VITA tax training, prepared returns to assist active-duty, and retired military personnel and family members.
The largest group seeking assistance was retirees, according to Capt. Tyler J. Gludt, deputy, Staff Judge Advocate, MCLB Albany.
“The Marines underwent a one-week tax preparation training course, which consisted of learning how to prepare 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ and the Georgia Form 500, and other forms,” Gludt said. “While tax laws change each year, annual training for preparers is designed to educate them on those updates, and Sgt. Valles, Sgt. Shelly Robinson and Cpl. Fabio Chapina-Rodriguez reviewed each return prior to its filing.”
Robinson also said the Tax Center amended several federal and state returns from 2012, getting back hundreds of dollars for taxpayers.
The Marines are credited with providing more than 3,080 hours of service, according to Gludt.