Dear neighbors,
I want to make you aware of a tax credit for American military veterans who have served in combat zones.
The credit applies to certain American military called to combat zones in 2009 including Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti, Kosovo, Jordan, Turkey, Bahrain and Kyrgyzstan.
American military forces are given a tax break for their service to recognize the inherent danger of duty in these places. Those who qualify can receive a $120 credit for every month they serve in a combat zone.
The deadline for claiming the credit for service in 2009 is Oct. 15, 2013.
To receive the credit, members of the military must file Form M99, Credit for Military Service in a Combat Zone, and attach corresponding Form DD-214. If they are still on active duty, they may attach Leave and Earnings statements for each month of qualifying service.
You must have been a Minnesota resident during the time of service to qualify. For more information on the military tax credit and to fill out the form, visit the Department of Revenue’s website at www.revenue.state.mn.us.
Tax credits for service in a combat zone are also available for 2010, 2011 and 2012. For more information, visit the Members of the Military page on the Department of Revenue’s website and sign up for e-mail updates on military credits, application deadlines and tax law changes. For information on locations that qualify for the tax credit, visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov.
I want to thank those of you who joined House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Hopkins Superintendent Dr. John Schultz and me at last week’s community education forum at Gatewood Elementary in Minnetonka. We had a productive discussion about the ways in which the 2013 legislature moved education forward in Minnesota, as well as the needs, challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for our schools and students. As we begin the 2013-14 school year, I am pleased that our children will be aided by new investments and reforms to strengthen our classrooms and improve the quality of education from classroom to college and beyond.
If you have any questions about either the Veteran’s credit or the education forum please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Please mark your calendars for my next education town hall meeting, which will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, Sept 21 at Forest Hills Elementary, 13708 Holly Rd, Eden Prairie. Rep. Paul Rosenthal will join us as we again discuss the changes the 2013 legislative session brought to our schools, and continue our dialogue about the future opportunities and challenges we face.
As always, thank you for the honor of being your voice at the Capitol.
Best,
Yvonne