Page 7 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 1-29-16

Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
Exchange partners with Block
to offer discount tax prep fee
The Internal Revenue Service expects
more than 150 million tax returns to be filed
this tax season, with more than 70 percent
of taxpayers receiving refunds. To take the
guesswork out of filing for military members
and their families, the Army & Air Force Ex-
change Service is teaming with H&R Block
to provide tax preparation services at a 10
percent discount.
Filers who use H&R Block’s services
through the Luke Exchange will receive
complimentary year-round access and sup-
port. Military shoppers will also receive H&R
Block’s Audit Assistance to help in preparing
a response in the event of an audit.
“As an extra incentive, Luke shoppers
who use H&R Block’s services will receive a
coupon to use the next time they shop at the
Exchange,” said Aileen Rivenburg, Luke Ex-
EXPERIENCE (from Page 2)
of stepping stones. With each step you take
another stone is revealed. Step out of your
comfort zone — explore new culture, attend
a college class, join a professional organiza-
tion and travel at each assignment. Soon
you will start to appreciate being one of the
fortunate few to be called an Airman. With
NEWS
change general manager. “With the coupon,
shoppers can receive 5 percent off a future
purchase or 10 percent off when paying with
a MILITARY STAR® card, with a maximum
savings of $100.”
Luke Exchange shoppers who use the tax
preparation service are also eligible for H&R
Block’s national sweepstakes, which awards
$1,000 to 1,000 people daily through Feb. 15.
Winners will be notified via email by H&R
Block. Additional information about the
sweepstakes can be found on H&R Block’s
website at www.hrblock.com/pdf/1000-terms-
and-conditions.pdf.
The Luke H&R Block office is open 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10
a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, and is located inside
the Luke Exchange Mall.
Courtesy of Army & Air Force Exchange Service
appreciation of those experiences, you can
focus less on your AFSC not being all you
dreamed it would be and more on where the
Air Force needs you to be.
“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste
experience to the utmost, to reach out ea-
gerly and without fear for newer and richer
experience.”
—Eleanor Roosevelt
Flat rate per
diem explained
What is it? The flat rate per diem
rule changes for long-term temporary
duty went into effect Nov. 1, 2014, and
apply when government lodging and/
or meals are not available at the TDY
installation.
Who is affected? Anyone assigned to
a TDY of 31 days or longer is subject to
flat rate per diem.
How does it work? If a TDY is to any
one location for 31 to 180 days, per
diem is limited to 75 percent of the lo-
cal maximum per diem. If the TDY is
longer than 180 days, the per diem is
limited to 55 percent. It is important to friends or family). If the member is
note that the rate of per diem is for the unable to arrange commercial lodging
entirety of the TDY, not 75 percent for
the first 30 days and then 55 percent
thereafter. Furthermore, if the TDY is
originally 180 days or less, but then
is extended beyond 180 days, the per
diem is reduced to 55 percent for the
The Tucson Gem and Mineral Society Proudly Presents:
THE 62ND ANNUAL
TUCSON GEM AND MINERAL SHOW®
Minerals of the
World
Brazil Paraiba Photographer Mia Dixon
February 11 - 14, 2016
Friday, February 12th is
Military Appreciation Day with a
$2.00 discount for all military
For more information, visit: www.tgms.org
Jan. 29, 2016 7
Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
remainder of the TDY effective the day
after the orders were amended.
The rate of per diem is determined
by the length of the TDY on the orders
and amendments. Per diem rates, in-
cluding flat rate per diem, are located
at http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/
site/perdiemCalc.cfm.
It is important to note that, even if
the cost of lodging is under the reduced
rate, reimbursement will be for the au-
thorized amount. For example, if a TDY
to Keesler is for 45 days, the per diem
is limited to 75 percent, which would be
$66.75 for lodging and $38.25 for meals
and incidentals. If the lodging cost is
$55 per night, reimbursement will be
for the authorized amount of $66.75.
This does not apply if the member
had no lodging costs (e.g., stayed with
under the reduced rate, a commercial
travel office must be contacted for as-
sistance. If a CTO is unable to arrange
suitable lodging, then the actual cost of
lodging may be authorized. However,
the meals and incidental expenses
portion of per diem remains reduced.
These are just a couple of answers to
common questions about the per diem
change. All of this information, and
more, can be found in the Joint Travel
Regulation, Chapter 4, Part B4.
For more information, call the finan-
cial services office at 623-8566-3977.
Tanzanite Photographer Mia Dixon
Tucson
Convention
Center