Illinois CPA Society Provides Free Tax Filing Services to Military Personnel

CHICAGO, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Those involved in a war overseas, whether a service member or family of military personnel, have more on their minds than filing their tax returns. Committed to supporting the U.S. Armed Forces, the Illinois CPA Society is helping military personnel and their families by offering free assistance for the often-stressful task of tax preparation.

The Illinois CPA Society has partnered with the Internal Revenue Service to offer the Military Service Tax Assistance Project, which provides free personal income tax return filing services to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are on or have returned from active duty in a combat zone such as Iraq or Afghanistan.

Military tax returns can be quite complex, and members of the Illinois CPA Society are volunteering their time and expertise to help military personnel and their families make sense of it all, and identify the unique and special tax credits that may be available to them.

The Military Service Tax Assistance Project is structured to help those who do not have an existing relationship with a CPA and who would otherwise have few resources for financial advice and information on IRS guidelines for military personnel. To qualify for assistance, individuals and their families must meet the following criteria:

-- A current Illinois resident; and

-- A member of the U.S. Armed Forces having served in a combat zone or
qualified hazardous duty area, or a spouse of a member in a combat
zone; or

-- A member of the U.S. Armed Forces serving in a contingency operation.

"The Illinois CPA Society represents more than 22,000 CPAs and financial professionals. We recognize the dedication and sacrifice of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families, and we're committed to finding the most effective way to express our appreciation," said Elaine Weiss, president and CEO of the Society. "With the Military Service Tax Assistance Project, CPAs are able to support the troops in the best way they can -- by putting their tax expertise to use. By helping identify the special tax benefits available to military personnel, our members can help ease the financial strain of active duty."

For additional information about the Military Service Tax Assistance Project or to request the assistance of a volunteer CPA, visit the Illinois CPA Society's website at http://www.icpas.org/ or contact Karen Rosen at 1-800- 993-0393, ext. 227.

About the Illinois CPA Society

The Illinois CPA Society, founded in 1903, is the fifth largest state CPA society in the nation, with more than 22,000 members. It is the only professional organization that represents CPAs in Illinois. During its more than 100 years of existence, the Society has advanced the highest ethical and financial standards of the profession, and has been a leader in educating the public on financial issues.