SAN DIEGO --
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will be open to service members, veterans and their families at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, beginning Jan. 26. The center is located in Building 12 and offers tax preparations, free of charge.
The tax center is comprised of seven fully-trained Marines who have undergone rigorous training from both the Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board to ensure they are capable of handling every situation.
“We have been trained for anything really,” said Sgt. Jesus J. Colon, Quality Control Non-Commissioned Officer in charge. “We spent two weeks at (Marine Corps Air Station) Miramar receiving all day classes dealing with both state and federal tax forms. Also we spent weeks training for our certifications and qualifications here in the center.”
While the center is focused on getting Marines the most money back, they also offer advice to Marines, especially junior Marines.
“We want to focus on junior Marines,” said Colon, a native of Lajas, Puerto Rico. “Many times they bring in the wrong documents or don’t bring documents that need to be filed for them to get the money back. Marines can use the money that we are saving them to go out and use it on things that they need.”
Colon explains that some common mistakes are Marines not bringing prior employment documents, in the case that they are new to the Marine Corps and had been employed elsewhere for part of the year. Another common issue is that parents still claim the Marines on their taxes, which could result in a smaller refund for them.
The tax center makes it easy for Marines who are on a tight schedule to still be able to file their taxes.
Applicants must bring a copy of their military identification card, social security card and any applicable tax documents.
Walk-in hours are from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., and appointments can be made from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The deadline for filing taxes this year is April 17, but the tax center will be open through May 1 in the case of late returns or ones that need to be corrected.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, the Tax Center can be reached at (619) 524-8643 or by email at MCRDSD_VITA_TAX1@usmc.mil.