European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 18, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday september 18, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 9 payrolls being modified to Stop two withholding Usa eur s give credit by Peggy Davidson Kaiserslautern Bureau Kaiserslautern Germany a soldiers assigned to the 1st in 7th air defense arty at Rhine ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern Are doing a lot of bragging since the 1991 Soldier and no of the year were named. A it would be very hard for it to Ever happen again a said command sgt. Maj. Larry j. Gunnels the battalions sergeant major. The a a it he refers to is having both the Soldier and no of the year for . Army Europe from his battalion. A to the Best of our knowledge this is the first time two people from the same unit have won both the Soldier and no of the year in the same year a said staff sgt. Elaine Venema a Usa eur spokeswoman. She added that there have been years that two soldiers from the same command have won but not from the same battalion. Staff sgt. Umesh k. Dureja 29, said he was excited when his name was called out As the top non commissioned officer for the command. Spec. Christopher m. Mitchell 25, said he almost fell Over backward when his name was called. A there was a lot going through my mind a he said a i was worried that i did no twin. I knew 1 had done my both soldiers Are modest about their achievements citing the help of everyone in the battalion As the primary reason they won. The recognition came after nearly a year of studying and appearing before boards where they were judged on appearance presentation and knowledge of military subjects. The soldiers worked their Way up through Bat by Rosemary Sawyer Staft writer civilian employees in Europe will continue to Pav social Security and medicare taxes on overseas housing and Cost of living allowances until payroll centers can modify their computer systems to Stop withholding a defense department finance official says. A a we be told the services to attempt to Stop As soon As they Are Able to do so Given the system they have available and Are currently using a said the official with defense finance and accounting service. A Navy finance Center official said the Navy has been asked to Stop deducting the tax by the pay period that ends saturday if possible. Finance officials with the air Force in Europe do not expect to be Able to Stop taxing the allowances until dec. 1. The army in Europe could not say tuesday when payroll offices would have the software capability to Stop withholding taxes. Usa eur s 266th theater finance office also handles the payroll for department of defense dependents schools civilian employees. A Federal appeals court ruled in March that such taxation of allowances is illegal. After considering taking the Case to the supreme court the internal Revenue service conceded defeat aug. 1 and ended a six year Legal Battle waged by the overseas education association on behalf of 18 teachers in Bermuda. As for when and How the irs might Start refunding the illegal tax Money another defense finance and accounting official said a we Are waiting with bated breath. We be received no further word from them As of the defense department has filed protective claims with the irs for tax years 1986 through the third Quarter of 1991, a spokeswoman for the defense finance and accounting office said tuesday. Civilian employees must submit consent forms to their local payroll office to be included in the Blanket tax refund. Air Force workers who have not already filed the consent form can pick up forms at their local finance office. The 266th theater finance come will notify and provide forms to army employees who need to submit them the spokeswoman said. To receive refunds for 1986, employees must have Tery battalion brigade and major command boards to become two of 14 finalists from throughout Usa eur according to a statement from the Darmstadt military Community Public affairs office. A just because we won does no to mean we re the Best a Mitchell said. A we just had a better Day than the others a Dureja added. Dureja a communications chief in b Btry said a i thought i should win because i was very that preparation included pre Board quizzes by battalion members who asked questions on every conceivable subject to get him ready to face the real thing at Usa eur. Besides the pre boards Dureja said the other soldiers also a gave me a lot of books messages changes in regulations to keep him up to Date on army policy. Mitchell a Patriot missile Crew member assigned to d Btry said he also spent a lot of preparation time Reading books Field manuals and regulations. A the questions at the Board were Basic simple a Mitchell said. A the hardest question was How did i think i did. It was difficult because i did no to want to sound cocky but i did feel that i did As a Reward for their efforts Dureja and Mitchell were presented with meritorious service medals. 1�?~hey also received $500 each in cafes merchandise two $ 1,000 savings Bonds and a $500 shopping spree from the commissary. The soldiers will also he receiving new dress Green uniforms their second prize set they said. Dureja was awarded the use of a Saab 900 for one week. In october the soldiers will travel to the association of the . Army a annual conference in Washington. Submitted a consent form to their payroll office by april 15, 1990. For tax year 1987, consent forms must have been filed by april 15 of this year. These forms will also protect refunds of taxes paid through the third Quarter of 1991. Employees who filed consent forms for tax years 1988 or later need not submit additional forms. Employees w to have filed no consent forms must do so by dec. 31. A department of defense payroll offices will not process a refund claim for any employee who docs not have a consent form on file within the payroll office by that Date Quot said Jean Marie Ward Dias spokeswoman. If employees were paid from More than one payroll Ottine since Jan. 1, 1988, separate consent forms must be sent to each payroll office. Ward said. Workers who fail to file consent forms to their payroll offices by the end of this year May file an irs form 843 directly to the internal Revenue service Ward said. These claims must be filed for a tax year 1988 by april 15, 1992. A tax year 1989 by april 15, 1993. A tax year 1990 by april 15, 1994. A tax year 1991 by april 15, 1995. A Usa eur spokeswoman said the command estimates it has about 24,000 employees and 7,000 schools employees who will be affected by the irs decision. The Navy in Europe said it has about 3,000 workers. The air Force could not estimate the number of workers affected because of the turnover of workers since january 1987 when it began taxing the allowances. Army payroll offices began withholding taxes from Cost of living allowance called Post allowance for civilians in december 1986 and other allowances in december 1987. The Navy has been withholding the taxes since Early 1985 and the air Force since january 1987. The state department resisted pressure from the irs to withhold the taxes. Employees covered by the Federal employee retirement system created in 1983 have had their allowances taxed for social Security and medicare at an annual rate of 8.51 percent. Those covered under the old civil service retirement system have had their allowances taxed for medicare Only at a rate of 1.45 percent a year. S4s Pagor Daw Teton staff sgt. Umesh k. Dureja left and spec. Christopher m. Mitchell of the 1st in stand near unit Headquarters. a a a a v �.�T�.v.v.\v.v. .v.v.v.v.\v.v.v.v. Just because we won does t mean we re the Best a spec. Christopher m. Mitchell we just had a better Day than the others a staff sgt. Umesh k. Dureja military Flea Market car Sale set at Barracks in Friedberg Giessen Germany a a car Sale and Flea Market will be held from 9 . To 4 ., sept. 28 and 29, at Ray Barracks in Friedberg Germany. The event will be held at the 5th in 18th inf regt motor Pool near the Back Gate. At the used car Sale customs and vehicle registration help will be available and a banking representative will be there to provide assistance in getting a loan. The Flea Market will be held in conjunction with the car Sale. The event will be open to the German Community. Hot dogs hamburgers tacos and cold drinks will be sold. For More information Call the Deputy Community commanders office at ets 324-3100.Job fairs scheduled Giessen Germany a Job fairs will be held later this month and Early october in Friedberg Kirch Gons and Giessen. The first fair is scheduled for 4 To 7 ., sept. 26, in the recreation Center at Friedberg. The second fair will be from 4 To 7 ., oct. 3, in the recreation Center at Kirch Gons. The final fair is set for 4 To 7 ., oct. 10, in the depot recreation Center at Giessen. Job offers will be made at the fairs for some no appropriated fund jobs but on the spot Job offers will not be made for appropriated jobs. Applicants with military spouse preference status must bring a copy of their permanent change of station orders. Former military members must bring their member copy do form 214, and tourists must bring their passports. For More information Call the Giessen civilian personnel office at ets 3437101 or civilian 0641-402-7101.wardrobes for Sale Giessen Germany a Twenty five bedroom wardrobes will be sold for $50 each from 4 To 8 On sept. 26 and oct. 3 at the transient billets in bad nauheim. The Sale is open to government id card holders Only and purchases must be paid for in Cash. For More information Call ets 343-7711 or civilian 0641-402-7711. No. 7 soldiers to the 1st in
