21st TSC tax centers open for business

The Kaiserslautern Legal Services Center’s Tax Assistance Center held its grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 3 on Kleber Kaserne in Bldg. 3210. Brig. Gen. Aundre F. Piggee, the commanding general of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, was the guest of honor. Piggee and Spc. Phillip J. Wyatt, a paralegal specialist with the 21st TSC, cut the ribbon at the grand opening.

“It is an honor to be part of an organization that provides such a quality service to our young men and women who serve in the military and their families,” said Piggee. Active duty service members, reservists, retirees, Department of  Defense Civilians and family members are all entitled to use the 21st TSC tax centers at Kleber Kaserne and Landstuhl at no charge.

“Our services are completely free to service members and retirees and their family members as well as civilian members of the force and their family members serving in Europe,” said Mark Christensen, the chief of client services as the Kaiserslautern Legal Services Center, and a native of Palmer, Ala. “A commercial provider might charge $150 for a simple return, but our free services ensure that our community members keep that money for their own use.”

Customers must bring a valid photo identification, social security cards, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number cards for everyone on the tax return, a power of attorney for taxes (if applicable), a W-2 and/or a 1099-MISC, bank account number and routing number for direct deposit of a refund and a copy of the previous year’s tax return, if possible. According to Christensen, last year the tax centers of the Kaiserslautern Military Community prepared and filed 2,656 federal returns and 930 state returns, saving their clients over $640,000 in filing fees they would have paid in using commercial tax services. The returns generated were nearly $7 million in refunds, an average of almost $2,000 per return.

“Our tax preparers are all trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service,” said Christensen. “Folks who use our tax centers can do so knowing their return will be prepared accurately and professionally.” The tax center at Kleber Kaserne is located in building 3210, and the business hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is DSN 483-7688 or civilian 0631-411-7688.

The Landstuhl Tax Center opened Jan. 31 and the hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is co-located with the Education Center on the ground floor of building 3701. The phone number is DSN 486-6334 or civilian 06371-86-6334.