Assistance needed for 2013 tax season Published Nov. 19, 2012 By Col. Daniel Dant 460th Space Wing Commander BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Tax assistance for our military member, retirees and dependents is an important service that we provide at Buckley. Over the last five years, volunteers saved Team Buckley an average of $80,605 per year, money that may have otherwise been paid to commercial tax preparers. That is an average of $205 per Airman, Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Coast Guardsman and retiree who took advantage of the program. The military Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program is managed by the legal office, but manned primarily by dedicated and well-trained volunteers. Volunteers are the heart of this program, and the support of their commander, first sergeants and supervisors is the key ingredient to making our VITA Program work. The Internal Revenue Service will train all VITA volunteers from Dec. 17-20, 2012. Individual hands-on training will be the week of Jan. 28, 2013 in the Tax Center. Tax return preparation will most likely begin Feb. 4, 2013. To make this program a success, I request that each of you solicit volunteers to serve as VITA representatives and appoint a Unit Tax Representative to coordinate the training and scheduling of your unit's volunteers. Your UTR should be a motivated active duty member or civilian employee who will be your direct link with the Legal Office. Please provide your UTR's name and contact information to the Tax Program Manager, Mr. Paul Frank at DSN 847-6444 or at legal.assistance@buckley.af.mil by Nov. 23, 2012. Mr. Frank will answer any questions you have concerning the tax program. The number of military personnel who can receive tax preparation assistance each year is directly tied to the number of volunteers that sign up to provide the service. Your help is essential to identifying the volunteers that are the life blood of this program. I encourage each of you to stand with me in ensuring the success of this very important quality of life program that will benefit Team Buckley.