Help ease tax season stress; free tax services available Published Jan. 31, 2007 By Capt. Jennifer Sanchez 36th Wing Legal Office ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- The Andersen Tax Center opens Feb. 5, providing free tax services to the military community. The Tax Center will be open Monday through Friday from noon until 4 p.m. It will be located to the left of the Bank of Guam in Building 21000. The center will accept form 1040EZ returns on a walk-in basis. All other forms will require an appointment. Last year, the Tax Center helped clients file more than 1,700 returns, saving Andersen military members more than $100,000 in fees. Be sure to take all important tax documents to the appointment. This includes last year's tax return, W-2s, any Form 1099s or 1098s, picture IDs, social security cards, and any other financial document that seems important. Not having everything may cause delayed refunds. Anyone with a spouse who is unavailable to sign a joint tax return, must bring a special power of attorney to the appointment. The IRS requires a specific SPOA for tax purposes. Call the legal office at 366-2937 for assistance. For the fastest tax refund, there is the online option of e-filing taxes on the IRS website at www.irs.gov. It's easy and the program checks for math errors. Refunds can also be checked online. To take advantage of this option, it's best to start on the tax return early, gather all records in advance, and take your time. While most preparers provide excellent service, the IRS urges taxpayers to be very careful when choosing a tax preparer. If someone else prepares the tax return, the owner is still ultimately responsible for all the information on the tax return. Beware of preparers who promise to get a larger return than other preparers or take a percentage of the tax refund as their fee. Look into a person's education and credentials, and try to go with a reputable company. For more information about the tax center, call 366-6027 or contact Staff Sgt. Shannon Davison at 366-1033. Starting Feb. 2, appointments can be made by calling 366-4829.