Tips for Taxes: the Tax Center is here to help Published March 15, 2012 By Melanie Moore Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs Joint Base Andrews, Md. -- The annual April 15 deadline for filing taxes is fast approaching and that can create a headache for even seasoned tax preparers. The Joint Base Andrews, Md., tax center is available to alleviate pain and prepare state and federal tax returns for service members and retirees. The tax center is operating in the Jones building, Room 2550; 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Customers filing their 2012 taxes are required to bring copies of their 2012 W-2, 1098 and 1099 forms from all places of employment, and a copy of last year's tax returns. "Tax information carries forward," said Senior Airman Samuel Jones, 11th Wing Judge Advocate general law paralegal. "Last year's tax return gives us a good way to compare the taxes - to make sure we are not missing anything." The W-2 and 1099 forms show taxable income from the 2012 tax year; 1099s tailor to non-corporate independent contractors, and W-2s are corporate tax forms. Tax payers may be eligible for many deductions. Normally, a service member can deduct some portion of the contributions they make to their traditional individual retirement account for the year. However, if a service member or spouse was covered by an employer-maintained plan at any time during the year, then not all of these deductions may be eligible. Service members on active duty who received a permanent change of station may be entitled to a deduction for reasonable un-reimbursed moving expenses related to travel and the cost of moving household goods and personal effects. There are deductions for un-reimbursed work-related travel expenses when service members are traveling away from their permanent duty station. If a reserve component service member of the Armed Forces must travel more than 100 miles away from home in connection with their assignment, then they can deduct travel expenses as an adjustment to income. The costs of traveling from one workplace to another, attending a business meeting away from a regular workplace, or traveling away from home overnight for work may be considered a deduction from income. However, the expenses of commuting to a regular place of work are not deductible. Uniform expenses are not deductible, except when regulations prohibit service members from wearing uniforms off-duty. Service members may be able to deduct dues paid to any professional society that is directly related to their military position. However, service members cannot deduct dues paid to organizations related to their rank. Service members may be able to deduct the cost of work-related education as long as it meets one of two qualifying criteria as defined by the Internal Revenue Service: · It is required by the employer or the law to maintain a salary, status or job. This must also serve a bona fide business purpose of your employer. · It maintains or improves skills required to perform the employee's current job position. In both instances, this education cannot be used to meet minimum job requirements or to find a new trade or business. With some exceptions, travel and expenses for obtaining this education can also be deducted. For more information on 2012 tax deductions and preparation, visit http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3.pdf. Call (301) 981-3688 to set up an appointment with the tax center. The center will remain open until April 17.