The Income Tax Center has appointed 16 Marines to prepare tax returns, said Capt. Emmett Collazo, officer-in-charge of the tax center.

All volunteer Marines have gone through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance training and are certified through VITA.

‘‘Service members and family members can use the Income Tax Center on a walk-in basis weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” said Collazo. ‘‘For the more complicated tax returns, the (center) will take appointments.”

Required items to prepare tax returns are 2007 W-2 form, Social Security card, military identification card, all physical records of alimony payments or receipts, charitable contribution reports and receipts (churches⁄non-profit organizations), financial institution routing numbers and personal bank information, child care receipts, provider’s tax number and education expenses.

Service members can get the required documents and forms at myPay at http:⁄⁄mypay.dfas.mil and print 2007 W-2 Forms and banking information such as the bank’s routing number.

Service members must bring their Social Security card and military identification card for all deductions such as spouse, child, and dependent parent.

The time it takes to complete a tax return varies on the complexity of the client’s financial situation.

The later tax season gets, the more crowded the tax center will be, said Collazo. There may also be a rush at the beginning and end of the tax season.

Tax returns may be filed online for free or may be done by a tax preparer for a fee, but all the Marines here are trained and will give you personal assistance for free, said Staff Sgt. James Hicks, tax preparer from the tax center.

For more information, call the tax center at (703) 784-3975.