Center officials will see clients by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call (202) 356-1012, Ext. 40352.

The Tax Center offers free tax assistance, including preparation and electronic filing of federal and state tax returns. If eligible for electronic filing, the filer will usually receive any refund he or she may be owed by direct deposit within seven to 14 days, according to Tax Center staff. The center is operated by WRAMC’s Center Judge Advocate Office officials.

People who are eligible for assistance in the Tax Center include:

- active duty members and their dependents;

- widows, widowers and dependents of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom Soldiers;

- reservists on active duty for more than 30 days; and retirees (on a space-available basis).

However, if any of the individuals listed above are self-employed or own a business (with the exception of certified Family Child Care providers), or own more than one rental property, the individual is not eligible for assistance at the Tax Center.

Also, subject to personnel availability and workload, the officer-in-charge of the center may have to decline services to customers with more than five individual stock trades during the tax year.

The Walter Reed Tax Center has saved customers ‘‘hundreds of thousands of dollars” in tax preparation and electronic filing fees annually during tax season, said Col. Scott Young, chief of WRAMC’s Center Judge Advocate Office.