By John Reese
USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs
Of the two certainties in life, one of them at Kelley Barracks is done for the year as the Stuttgart Tax Center has closed after helping the military community file its 2017 taxes.
The Tax Center processed 613 federal returns and 259 state returns for a total of 872 returns. Those taxpayers saved $138,592 in filing fees.
“Tax payers obtained $1,256,506 in federal return refunds and $188,168 in state return refunds,” said Capt. Victoria J. Bell, trial counsel, Stuttgart Law Center, and officer-in-charge of the 2018 Tax Center.
The tax season wasn’t without challenges. Due to construction around the Stuttgart Law Center, where tax filings normally would’ve been processed, the Tax Center was established in the Kelley Club before the season began. There were occasional internet issues that hit on both filing deadlines (the usual April deadline and the June late deadline for overseas Americans), including a crash of the IRS website in April.
The Tax Center team wasn’t finished on the official 2018 tax deadline, which was April 18; a total of 97 filers took advantage of the overseas extension of June 15, with nine of them filing between June 16–29.
“We appreciated everyone’s patience,” Bell said.
The tax center is only successful because of the amazing support of the garrison community, Bell added, noting that without volunteers and borrowed military manpower, the tax center couldn’t function.
“I could not have run the tax center without my amazing team. They constantly exceeded expectations and went above and beyond to assist taxpayers,” Bell said. “They are the reason for the success of the tax center. All of them received numerous positive ICE comments which reflected the professionalism and passion they demonstrated, each and every day.”
The $1.2 million tax team for the 2018 Tax Center
- Capt. Victoria J. Bell officer-in-charge
- Sgt. Lindsey Gruber, noncommissioned officer in charge
- Spec. Ally Hendley
- Spec. Mark Brown
- Spec. Matthew Nasceif
- Pfc. Olivia Hyles,
- Maureen Romero, volunteer
- Mary-Kate Peter, civilian hire
The 2019 Tax Center for the 2018 tax filing season will open in February, 2019, and will be located back at the Stuttgart Legal Center, Bldg. 3312, Kelley Barracks.
For any questions or concerns, please call the Legal Assistance Office at 421-4152.
