Any Tax Filing advice for an AD Puerto Rican Soldier?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:10:07 -0500

I just walked out of the TAC and they told us "Good Luck". I'm trying to get advice from experience, but if an expert has an answer it will be really appreciated.

Finishing filing our taxes, we were told that because our residence state is PR, we can't get help from TAC and we should pay for it, no advice or whatsoever.

Have you or any of your Soldiers gone through this?

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Feb 4 at 2016 11:45 AM

SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:45:25 -0500

Oye mi hermano... My advice to you is to change your driver license to the state you live y asi no tener que pagar los taxes de PR y pagar los taxes de el estado en cual estas. Tambien cambia tu residencia con DFAS porque las cosas en la Isla estan bien malas y todavia le estan debiendo el refund del año pasado.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 4 at 2016 12:25 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 12:25:54 -0500

One word....TurboTax...

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Feb 4 at 2016 2:30 PM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 14:30:49 -0500

When I entered Active Duty I change my state of residency. I don't see a point to pay Puerto Rico taxes if I am not going back. Additionally the taxes were quite high.

Life requires us to change and adapt. I chose not to make an emotional decision to stay a resident of PR. I made a rational and financially advantageous decision by changing my state of residency. In the end, the choice is yours.

I caution you not to take at face value what barracks lawyers and the barracks Tax Guy will tell you. Question everything and ask the experts. Or just use TurboTax like SSG Michael Hasbun said.

I am curious about your statement "He had to it in order to being able to get help from the Tax Assistance Center."

Good thing you are asking the RP forum. You will get plenty of answers to help you out.

Response by CSM Felipe Mendez made Feb 4 at 2016 3:14 PM

CSM Felipe Mendez — Thu, 04 Feb 2016 15:14:58 -0500

The key word is "Commonwealth" This word place us under difference laws similar to Louisiana. I was forced to do the same and changed my residence to TX. My first time, I paid Taxes for PR and Federal and believed or not the PR taxes were double in comparison to the federal. In this occasion/filing, PR owe me taxes, it took several phone calls, faxes and 6 months later for them to agree to paid me. I expend more money in phone calls, faxes and legal document to show proof that I was in the military than the tax return that I got from them. My suggestion is to change residence and pay the federal tax and state of residence while on military duty. The same goes for personal property "Will". I want to do a "will" and I was told that I need to see special Legal advisor familiar with the "Commonwealth" laws. I had to wait few months until JAG finally had a legal advisor qualified in the commonwealth laws. Good luck

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2016 12:38 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 12:38:52 -0500

Collects all you paper work, to include receipt and so fort