UNCLASSIFIED//
ATTENTION INVITED TO  
ROUTINE
R 062135Z NOV 13 PSN 254518K25
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
INFO ZEN/CNO WASHINGTON DC
BT
UNCLAS
SUBJ: 2014 VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA)/ELECTRONIC TAX FILI NG 
(ELF) PROGRAM UNCLASSIFIED/ PASS TO ALL OFFICE CODES:
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS//
TO NAVADMIN
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 290/13

MSGID/NAVADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/DNS/DEC//

SUBJ/2014 VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA)/ELECTRONIC TAX FILING (ELF) 
PROGRAM//

REF/A/MSG/CNO/181918Z DEC 12//
AMPN/REF A IS NAVADMIN 381/12//
POC/ENSIGN/LT/OJAG 16/JAG/TEL: (202) 685-4641/DSN: 325-4641//

RMKS/1. THIS NAVADMIN PROVIDES NOTICE AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE 2014 
VITA/ELF PROGRAM. THIS MESSAGE SUPERSEDES REFERENCE A.

2. THE VITA/ELF PROGRAM IS MANAGED BY NAVAL LEGAL SERVICE COMMAND TO PROVIDE 
FREE ELECTRONIC TAX FILING SERVICES FOR SAILORS, DEPENDENTS, AND RETIREES 
WITH A FOCUS ON ASSISTING SERVICE MEMBERS E6 AND BELOW.
COMMERCIAL TAX PREPARERS CHARGE OVER $170 FOR AN AVERAGE ELECTRONICALLY-FILED 
RETURN. LAST YEAR, FLEET VOLUNTEERS HELPED THOUSANDS OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND 
DEPENDENTS AVOID PAYING TAX PREPARATION FEES. IN FACT, IN 2013 VOLUNTEERS 
WITH THE PROGRAM SAVED SERVICE MEMBERS AND DEPENDENTS MORE THAN A MILLION 
DOLLARS IN FEES AND PROVIDED OVER 8 MILLION DOLLARS IN EXPEDITED TAX REFUNDS.

3. THIS PROGRAM REDUCES THE EFFORT AND COST INVOLVED IN PREPARING AND FILING 
FEDERAL AND STATE TAX RETURNS.
A. VOLUNTEERS ASSIST SAILORS AND DEPENDENTS AT NO COST.
B. REFUNDS ARE DEPOSITED AN AVERAGE OF TWO WEEKS FROM THE DATE OF FILING, 
REDUCING THE LURE OF COMMERCIAL REFUND ANTICIPATION LOANS WHICH HAVE HIGH 
INTEREST RATES AND FEES.

4. THIS PROGRAM IS AVAILABLE TO ALL SAILORS, DEPENDENTS AND RETIREES.
TAX CENTERS ARE STAFFED BY IRS TRAINED AND CERTIFIED VOLUNTEERS TO ASSIST 
WITH TAX FILING.

5. COMMANDS MUST ENSURE SAILORS ARE AWARE OF THEIR PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO 
FILE TAX RETURNS AND THAT FREE NAVY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM. SELF-
SERVICE TAX PREPARATION, USING FREE TAX FILING SOFTWARE, IS AVAILABLE TO ALL 
SAILORS, DEPENDENTS, AND RETIREES TO FILE THEIR TAX RETURNS AT CONUS AND 
OCONUS TAX CENTERS.

6. TAX ASSISTANCE CENTERS DEPEND ON LOCAL COMMANDS FOR PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, 
AND FACILITIES. THIS PROGRAM MERITS SERIOUS CONSIDERATION IN EVERY COMMAND'S 
ALLOCATION OF MANPOWER AND RESOURCES AND IS A PARTICULARLY GOOD USE OF 
TALENTED LIMITED DUTY SAILORS.
A. COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO IDENTIFY SAILORS WHO CAN WORK AS VOLUNTEERS 
FULL OR PART-TIME AT TAX CENTERS.
B. VOLUNTEERS REQUIRE TRAINING IN ADVANCE OF ASSIGNMENT TO A TAX CENTER. 
VOLUNTEERS WILL BE ADVISED OF TRAINING SESSIONS BY TAX CENTER MANAGERS PRIOR 
TO EXECUTION OF DUTIES. COMMANDS THAT CAN PROVIDE SAILORS AS VITA/ELF 
VOLUNTEERS SHOULD CONTACT THEIR LOCAL RLSO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. RLSO CONTACT 
INFORMATION CAN BE ACCESSED AT THE FOLLOWING WEB ADDRESS: 
WWW.JAG.NAVY.MIL/LEGAL_SERVICES/LEGAL_SERVICES_LOCATOR_RLSO.HTM.
C. COMMANDS INTERESTED IN SETTING UP THEIR OWN PROGRAM SHOULD CONTACT LT 
ERICKA ENSIGN AT THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL (CODE 16) AT (202) 
685-4641 DSN: 325-4641 OR ericka.ensign@navy.mil.

7. RELEASED BY VICE ADMIRAL S. H. SWIFT, DIRECTOR, NAVY STAFF.//

BT
#0192
NNNN
UNCLASSIFIED//