Ohio CPAs to prepare tax returns free of charge for deployed troops
Operation CPA eases the burden on military families during tax season
(COLUMBUS, January 7, 2010) — The Ohio Society of CPAs (OSCPA) will once again provide free tax preparation services to Ohio military families this tax season.
From January through April, Ohio certified public accountants will volunteer to prepare 2009 tax returns for military personnel who are permanent residents of Ohio and currently deployed outside of the state.
Operation CPA is a partnership with the Ohio National Guard, and provides a valuable service to help ease the burden of deployment on Ohio military families.
"Ohio Military families have enough challenges when a family member is away on active duty,” said J. Clarke Price, president and CEO of OSCPA. “The Ohio Society of CPAs offers this much-needed service to support men and women who are serving our country, and to give their loved ones one less thing to worry about.”
To find an Operation CPA volunteer in your area, call The Ohio Society of CPAs toll-free at 888.959.1212 or e-mail cpanswers@ohio-cpa.com.
New Tax Benefit for Military Personnel
The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 extends and expands the first-time homebuyer credit for eligible taxpayers who buy, or enter into a binding contract to buy, a principal residence on or before April 30, 2010 and close on the home by June 30, 2010. Taxpayers have the option of claiming the credit on either their 2009 or 2010 return.
Members of the military and certain other federal employees serving outside the U.S. have until April 30, 2011 to buy a principal U.S. residence, and until June 30, 2011, to close on the purchase. The extension applies to any individual (and, if married, the individual’s spouse) who serves on qualified official extended duty service outside of the United States for at least 90 days during the period beginning after Dec. 31, 2008, and ending before May 1, 2010.
For more details on the first-time homebuyer credit, visit the IRS Web site for military personnel.
For more tax tips from Ohio CPAs, visit OSCPA’s Tax Headquarters at www.financialfitnessohio.com.
The Ohio Society of CPAs, established in 1908, represents more than 23,000 CPAs in business, education, government and public accounting. The Ohio Society’s members not only meet statutory and regulatory requirements as CPAs, but also embrace the highest standards of professional and ethical performance. This is achieved through ongoing professional education, comprehensive quality review and compliance with a strict Code of Professional Conduct.
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LAST UPDATED 1/8/2010