- Joined
- Mar 26, 2006
- Messages
- 15,469
JoCoJenn|1488157809|4134126 said:Dee*Jay|1487782970|4132189 said:
Just perusing a bit through this thread, and this caught my eye. As FYI, basic tax prep services on base were staffed by volunteers (usually retired military members who were tax savvy or former CPAs, etc.) for years, and that service was free to junior enlisted members & military retirees. Then they moved to 'paid' tax preparers; however, the services (just like childcare) are paid for by the people who use them ... not the government/taxpayers. The gov just facilitates the services on base, clearances, access, payroll, etc. The freeze doesn't mean military personnel won't be able to get their taxes done; they will just need to go off base like everyone else in the mean time. Unless things have changed, most mil pay is taxable like everything else, unless earned in a combat/tax-free zone, in which case it's not included in taxable income on the tax forms, so it's pretty straightforward, really. You don't need to file in multiple states; only your 'home state of record', which most keep the same as where they are originally from or their current state if the tax benefit is better. I did our taxes myself all the time, and we had bonuses in combat zones, combat pay, were from two different states, etc.
Childcare is the same, but even snopes addressed this misunderstanding by some bases that they were actually exempt, but no one corrected the record.
http://www.snopes.com/2017/02/22/federal-hiring-freeze-affects-military-childcare-programs/
Once again, these stories are not what the media (or twitter) make them out to be. Taking (and sharing) tweets as 'fact' (without understanding how things work or if they're even true) is just fueling the flames of ignorance and divisiveness. And I don't mean you personally - DeeJay or Telephone; but in general. That is why I have largely stayed out of this thread.
Jenn, thanks for adding this info, which is consistent with the basic data I had gotten from the posted link. An important part of what you posted is that people will now have to go off-site to get their taxed done. And that is part of my fear -- they may not end up in the hands of someone who is familiar with the military scenario, but could instead choose to go to a convenient H&R Block (for example) and get a preparer who is not (as) familiar with the ins and out of military pay. And I also understand what you're saying about the jurisdiction in which to file, but the people at H&R (again, for example) are not always well-versed in multi-state filings so somone's taxes may not be done correctly from a jurisdiction standpoint. But of this this is all speculation on my part -- people may choose todo their own taxes, and do them perfectly, or go to a preparer (H&R or otherwise) who also does them perfectly. My fear though, is that will not necessarily be the case.
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