Free Online Tax Filing
Good news!
Free Tax Help Available to Military Families:
Once again Military OneSource
is offering free tax assistance to all active duty, National Guard, and
Reserve members, as well as their DEERS-enrolled spouses and children. Family
members who are filing returns for a deployed or severely injured service
member can also use this free service for the service member's tax return.
Authorized users may prepare and electronically file one federal and one
state return at no charge. The most notable change to the program for this
year is that the software is H&R Block TaxCut Online rather than TurboTax
Online.
The TaxCut software is very user friendly and leads you through a series of
interview questions to ensure that you receive all of the deductions and
credits for which you qualify. Prior to logging into TaxCut, be sure to visit
MyPay at https://mypay.dfas.mil/ to print your W-2. In addition, you will need
W-2s for any non-military employment. Don't forget to gather interest income
statements (1099-Int) from your bank or credit union as well as the details
of any expenses that may qualify for a deduction or credit such as mortgage
interest, tuition, childcare or charitable contributions. Once you have
collected your supporting documents you are ready to file.
To access the free filing offer you must enter TaxCut through the link on the
Military OneSource website; http://www.militaryonesource.com/. You will be
required to register with Military OneSource if you are not already a
registered user. After login the site will redirect you to the H&R Block
TaxCut website where you can begin entering information for your return.
Accessing the H&R Block website directly, rather than through the OneSource
link, will result in regular charges for preparation and filing.
Military members and families that used last year's TurboTax Online through
Military OneSource will have to enter manually personal information in
TaxCut. Prior year information entered into TurboTax Online cannot be
uploaded into TaxCut Online. Users may want to print copies of their 2005
returns for reference. To access 2005 returns from the TurboTax Online
website, http://turbotax.intuit.com/, click on "Access Your Prior Year
Returns". Once logged in, you will be able to print PDF files of your 2005
returns. Taxpayers who used TaxCut Online or purchased TaxCut or TurboTax
software that was loaded to their hard drive can upload personal and prior
year information directly to TaxCut online.
As always, Military OneSource has qualified tax consultants available to
assist service members and their families with tax questions. While they
cannot prepare your return for you, they are able to assist you with
questions that you may have as you work through the TaxCut filing process. To
contact a OneSource Tax Consultant, use the toll free OneSource tax resource
number: 1-800-730-3802.