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ATTENTION INVITED TO  
ROUTINE
R 181918Z DEC 12 PSN 108603K18
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
ZEN/OU=DOD/OU=NAVY/OU=ADDRESS LISTS(UC)/CN=AL NAVADMIN(UC)
INFO ZEN/CNO WASHINGTON DC
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SUBJ: 2013 VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA)/ELECTRONIC TAX FILI NG (ELF) 
PROGRAM UNCLASSIFIED/ FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//DNS// TO NAVADMIN UNCLAS 
NAVADMIN 381/12

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

SUBJ/2013 VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA)/ELECTRONIC TAX FILING (ELF) 
PROGRAM//

REF/A/MSG/CNO/231346Z NOV 11//

AMPN/REF A IS NAVADMIN 357/11//
POC/KOECHER/LT/OJAG 16/JAG/TEL: (202) 685-4637/DSN: 325-4637//

RMKS/1. THIS NAVADMIN PROVIDES NOTICE AND INFORMATION REGARDING THE 2013 
VITA/ELF PROGRAM. THIS MESSAGE SUPERSEDES REF 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. IN 
2012, VOLUNTEERS WITH THE PROGRAM, SAVED SERVICE MEMBERS AND DEPENDENTS MORE 
THAN 
3.2 MILLION DOLLARS IN FEES AND PROVIDED OVER 28 MILLION DOLLARS IN EXPEDITED 
TAX REFUNDS.

3. THIS PROGRAM REDUCES THE EFFORT AND COST INVOLVED IN PREPARING AND FILING 
MEETING FEDERAL AND STATE TAX FORMS.
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.
A. FULL-SERVICE ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR E-6 AND BELOW AND DEPENDENTS AT 
OCONUS TAX CENTERS AND TO OTHERS AS LOCAL RESOURCES ALLOW. ADDITIONALLY, FULL-
SERVICE ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE IN ALL LOCATIONS FOR ANY CUSTOMER FACING 
PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS.
B. SELF-SERVICE TAX PREPARATION, USING FREE TAX FILING SOFTWARE, IS AVAILABLE 
TO ALL SAILORS, DEPENDENTS, AND RETIREES TO FILE THEIR TAX RETURNS AT CONUS 
CENTERS AND E-7 AND ABOVE TO FILE OCONUS.

5. TAX ASSISTANCE CENTERS DEPEND ON LOCAL COMMANDS FOR PERSONNEL, EQUIPMENT, 
AND FACILITIES. COMMANDS MUST ENSURE SAILORS ARE AWARE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY 
TO FILE TAX RETURNS AND THAT FREE NAVY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THEM.
A. COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO IDENTIFY SAILORS WHO CAN WORK AS VOLUNTEERS FULL 
OR PART-TIME AT TAX CENTERS. SUPPORT IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL DURING THE MONTH 
OF FEBRUARY, THE PEAK TAX FILING PERIOD.
B. VOLUNTEERS REQUIRE TRAINING IN ADVANCE OF ASSIGNMENT TO A TAX CENTER. 
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 
AUDREY KOECHER AT THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL (CODE 16) AT (202) 
685-4637 DSN: 325-4637 OR audrey.koecher@navy.mil.

6. RELEASED BY VICE ADMIRAL R. W. HUNT, DIRECTOR, NAVY STAFF.//

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