Volunteer tax preparer shares experience

  • Published
  • By Air Force Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Preparing and filing a tax return can be a daunting task for anyone, especially for new service members going through the process for the first time. 
Air Force Staff Sgt. Terry Shoup said he likes helping service members and their families by volunteering as a tax preparer. He enjoys seeing the reaction of people who get more money back than they thought they could.

Shoup, a 673d Civil Engineer Squadron medical laboratory technician and currently an Airman dormitory leader, said he has always been good with numbers and uses his skills to give back by volunteering.

"This is the second year I've volunteered," said the Altus, Oklahoma native. "It's something I've always wanted to do. I always looked at tax return season as [the time] when most families plan their vacations, so I want to help them make it happen."

His brother was the first person who really got him interested in learning different ways he could save on taxes 11 years ago, and Shoup has been filing his own tax return since then.

"Over the years, I've been able to save a lot by doing my own taxes," Shoup said.

Last year, Shoup helped one military couple who thought they would pay $15,000 in state taxes because of their combined income.

"The couple was both deployed at different times, but both received $30,000 of selective retention bonus," Shoup said. "I was able to get all their state taxes refunded. They saved almost $20,000."

Shoup encourages members filing their taxes to make sure they have everything they need including bank statements, W-2s, any retirement contributions or education documents.

"Even though someone else is doing your taxes, the whole responsibility falls to the tax payer," Soup said. "I may do your taxes, but if something is wrong with your taxes, the IRS will come ask you about it, not me. So whatever you claim on your taxes, you have to have documentation for it."

With his unique position as an Airman dormitory leader at Eklutna and Turnagain Hall as well as a tax preparer, Shoup is opening his door at the dorms to help service members in the vicinity.

"Instead of having all the single service members in the dorms going over to the tax center, I can cover all the Airmen in the dorms," said the 12-year Air Force veteran. "They are just a couple of minutes away from my office [Eklutna and Turnagain Hall on the first floor]."

"I can't think of a better way to reach that demographic than to have tax preparation services available in the dorms," said Air Force Lt. Col. William Annexstad, 673d Air Base Wing Staff judge advocate who is in charge of the tax program on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

"It will ensure that JBER's young service members know that this resource exists for them, and will make filing a tax return as simple as possible."

The tax center is open to any active duty, Reserve, and National Guard service members as well as retirees and family members.