Taxes Done Right in COVID in the Era

By Capt. Will Monroe, Fort Bliss Tax Center

Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes,” and the Fort Bliss Tax Center will be there to help service members, dependents and retirees in facing the second certainty while implementing health and safety measures to avoid the first.

An array of changes have been implemented in the Tax Center for the upcoming tax season, with the goal of maintaining a COVID-19 safe environment. Plexiglas panels on desks now separate clients and tax preparers, masks are required at all times, and sanitation stations at the entrance are all some of the more familiar ways the Tax Center is looking to keep its clients safe.

Another way the Fort Bliss Tax Center is adapting to face the challenge of COVID-19 can be seen in the new way in which appointments are handled. In years past, eligible clients could walk in to the tax center and make appointments in person or even have their taxes prepared on the spot if there was an available tax preparer. However, with the spread of COVID, walk-in appointments and in-person scheduling are no longer allowed. Instead, appointments are made either via telephone at (915) 568-1040, or via Facebook Messenger at the Fort Bliss Tax Center Facebook page.

Another change to the old system can be seen in how clients are in-processed. Due to social distancing requirements, the waiting room is closed. Instead, clients park their cars in designated spaces and wait for a tax preparer, who will come out to their vehicle to ensure they have all the necessary documents before escorting them inside the building. Before entering the building, clients have their temperature taken, and are required to answer a battery of questions regarding any possible COVID-19 symptoms or exposure.

Through these health and safety measures, the Fort Bliss Tax Center is fully prepared to serve the community by providing top quality tax preparation in a safe and secure environment. The Tax Center opened Jan. 19 and is located at 2910 Cassidy Road on west Fort Bliss. Appointments are available through April 16. For helpful information, visit the Fort Bliss Tax Center’s webpage, https://home.army.mil/bliss/index.php/my-fort/all-services/staff-judge-advocate/fort-bliss-tax-center.