Tax Season 2021: Resources and Questions megathread

[kitty346]

It’s that time of year again! I believe most W-2s are now available, so it’s time to remind everyone of the tax filing assistance options

MilTax from Military One Source: Tax consultants available by phone. Starting on Jan 19, free access to H&R Block Premium tax software. In the past it’s included up to 3 state returns. Available to active duty, reserve, guard, and those who have separated recently.

On base tax centers: some of these have closed, but many are still available. Check with your legal assistance office for more information.

IRS FreeFile: A variety of free options for anyone with income under $72k. Free fillable forms for higher income people who want to do their own taxes.

IRS Publication 3: Armed Force’s Tax Guide

IRS Publication 17: Federal Tax Filing Guide

Feel free to comment with your favorite tax resource or ask questions below!

 

[justthinkingaboutstuff]

@kitty346 It's interesting to me that TurboTax sets their AGI cutoff so much lower than the other free offers at that IRS link. Guess they figure once you are in their walled garden, you are likely to stay?

 

[seraph595]

@kitty346 I’ve used each throughout different years, and I can wholeheartedly say that MilTax is the real deal. Best interface, less queep, very easy to file. It also made it easy to differentiate myself (Texas resident) and my wife (Georgia).

 

[penny888]

@kitty346 Got married in March and during the year, the wife had a W-2 job in AZ, a nannying gig in MD, and now a W-2 job in MD. Can I still do these myself without issue or should I pay someone?

 

[kitty346]

@penny888 I’d give it a shot yourself first or at the on base tax center. Is she planning to claim your state tax residence?

 

[slivinskaya]

@penny888 In order for her to not pay state taxes at the state you are stationed in, both have to be residents of the same state. Pls look into this and consider ASAP.

 

[kitty346]

@slivinskaya This changed in 2018 with the VBTA. In many circumstances, a military spouse can file taxes in the servicemember’s state of legal residence even if they’ve never been in that state.

 

[slivinskaya]

@kitty346 Thank you so much! Reading it now and I think I found the area regarding this.

“SEC. 302. RESIDENCE OF SPOUSES OF SERVICEMEMBERS FOR TAX PURPOSES.

(a) Residence for Tax Purposes.--Section 511(a)(2) of the

Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 4001(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) by striking

A spouse'' and inserting the following:

(A) In general.--A spouse''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(B) Election.--For any taxable year of the
marriage, the spouse of a servicemember may elect to use
the same residence for purposes of taxation as the
servicemember regardless of the date on which the
marriage of the spouse and the servicemember
occurred.''.

(b)   Applicability.--The amendments made

by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any return of State or
local income tax filed for any taxable year beginning with the taxable
year that includes the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 303. RESIDENCE OF SPOUSES OF SERVICEMEMBERS FOR VOTING.

(a) In General.--Section 705(b) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief

Act (50 U.S.C. 4025(b)) is amended--
(1) by striking

State or local office'' and all that 
        follows through the period at the end of paragraph (3) and 
        inserting

State or local office--''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(1) a person who is absent from a State because the person
is accompanying the person's spouse who is absent

[[Page 132 STAT. 5374]]

    from that same State in compliance with military or naval orders 
    shall not, solely by reason of that absence--
                ``(A) be deemed to have lost a residence or domicile 
            in that State, without regard to whether or not the 
            person intends to return to that State;
                ``(B) be deemed to have acquired a residence or 
            domicile in any other State; or
                ``(C) be deemed to have become a resident in or a 
            resident of any other State; and
        ``(2) the spouse of a servicemember may elect to use the 
    same residence as the servicemember regardless of the date on 
    which the marriage of the spouse and the servicemember 
    occurred.''.”

source