Tax center volunteers save Airmen $150K Published April 13, 2012 By Senior Airman Katherine Windish 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Aviano Air Base's tax center staff helped file nearly $2 million worth of returns this year without costing customer's a cent in preparation services. "[The volunteers] at the tax center outlined everything I needed to do," said Airman 1st Class Allisa Luker, 31st Security Forces Squadron soggiorno and passport intern. "They made everything really easy and pain free. I've been using the tax center for the past four years and I will definitely use it again next year." Thirty volunteer income tax advisors served 777 active duty, Guard and Reserve, retirees, family members and contractors during tax season. Volunteers went through more than 30 hours of Internal Revenue Service training and provided 294 free man-hours to the volunteer tax center. "It was a monumental effort filing as many returns as we did and we could not have done it without our volunteers," said Capt. Joseph Weismantel, officer-in-charge of the tax center. The volunteer tax center saved its customers more than $150,000 in tax preparation fees, plus helped customers put $1,975,515 in refunds back into their pockets. "The tax center alleviates stress that often accompanies filing taxes, saves time, helps maximize refunds and most importantly, it's free," said Weismantel. "Tax center [volunteers are] specially trained to handle the unique considerations facing military personnel and their families. These considerations included the effects of [moving], deploying and any military income exclusions for state returns." It is not too late to file your taxes, Weismantel continued. There is an automatic overseas extension until June 15. There are also additional extensions for those who deployed in 2011. The tax center is still taking appointments through June 15. To make an appointment, call DSN 632-8294.