U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Alexia Riveracorrea GM2 Miranda Davis, a Volunteer Income Tax Assistant assists Midshipman 3rd Class Quinn Sloan with his yearly taxes. VITA is part of the Armed Forces Tax Council, which oversees the operations of the military tax programs worldwide.

Located at the NSA Annapolis personnel office in Building 15, VITA offers free tax preparation and electronic filing to active-duty and retired service members, Department of Defense civilian employees, and families through April 15.

Midshipmen can also take advantage of the VITA program at an alternate location in Bancroft Hall, room 6035.

‘‘This program is very successful,” said command program coordinator Legalman 1st Class Demieka Wilson. ‘‘We provide quality tax assistance for military members and their families to ensure that no one pays for commercial tax preparation services unless they want to.”

Although it is a free service, all volunteers for VITA are professionally trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service.

‘‘I have been the tax officer since September 2007, and I love it,” said Wilson. ‘‘There is always something new, and everyone is required by law to file. This means that I have a job trait that will always be in demand.”

The VITA program is a great tool, and people should take advantage of it, said Wilson.

‘‘We get refunds in the same time frame as commercial establishments do, and even offer a little education for future use,” she said. ‘‘We are here to help people save their money, something that other companies will not do. A basic 1040EZ could cost as much as $75 to file. Why not keep your money and invest it in something for the future?”

The tax center is designed to be as convenient, quick and user-friendly as possible. Individuals are only asked to bring the paperwork they will need to complete their returns.

All customers should bring the following items: military Identification card, W-2 forms, bank statements, investment statements, bank routing and account numbers, child care expense statements, education expense statements, student loan interest statements, home mortgage interest statements, any other tax forms you have received and a copy of your 2010 federal return.