Lake County Veterans Get Local Guidance on Filing Taxes and VA Benefits

The North Shore Journal on Feb. 18, 2026 published "Tax Season and Your VA Benefits," a practical explainer aimed at veterans and families in the North Shore / Lake County region that relays federal guidance from the U.S. Air Force and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The local piece frames tax filing season as a time when veterans should check eligibility for federal help and know where to report problems.

Federal guidance cited in the Journal traces to a U.S. Air Force release datelined WASHINGTON, February 6, 2025 and VA summary material that together advise that "VA wants Veterans to know they may qualify for special tax breaks and free assistance programs to help them navigate the filing process and maximize their returns." The Air Force item carries a footer marking © 2025 United States Air Force, signaling the federal origin of the guidance the Journal summarizes for Lake County readers.

VA and Air Force guidance that the Journal relayed stresses practical steps for filers. "Whether a Veteran files their taxes independently or uses a tax professional, VA encourages Veterans and their loved ones to review the following tips and resources to both help them navigate the tax season with confidence and to avoid tax season scams." The federal materials make clear the emphasis is both on claiming lawful tax breaks and on avoiding abusive preparers and fraud.

Scam prevention and reporting are central to the federal messages the Journal passed along. As the guidance states, "Tax season can be stressful, but Veterans can avoid scams and protect their finances by increasing their knowledge and taking precautions." The federal guidance adds that "Understanding Veterans’ tax benefits, choosing a trusted professional or service, recognizing scams and safeguarding PII are all steps to ensure a safe and secure tax filing experience," and it instructs veterans that "If Veterans encounter a tax scam, they should report it to the appropriate authorities."

The Journal also relays specific federal contact points for Lake County veterans who face benefit or fraud issues. For missed VA benefits payments, discrepancies, or suspicious direct-deposit activity the VA guidance directs veterans to contact VA immediately at 800-827-1000. For suspected fraud affecting veterans the guides point to the VA fraud-reporting portal and the national fraud hotline at 833-38V-SAFE. For tax-preparer abuse or tax-scam reporting, veterans are directed to the IRS "Report a tax scam or fraud" page.

Official VA web content included additional reader guidance about seeking help and protecting privacy. The VA comments guidance reproduced in the Journal warns that "The comments section is for opinions and feedback on this particular article; this is not a customer support channel. If you are looking for assistance, please visit Ask VA or call 1-800-698-2411. Please, never put personally identifiable information (SSAN, address, phone number, etc.) or protected health information into the form, it will be deleted for your protection." That VA page also carried the topic tag #VetResourcesBenefits and showed 19 Comments at the time the Journal summarized the guidance.

Lake County veterans seeking assistance should use the federal phone lines above as their first step and treat local news coverage, including the North Shore Journal's Feb. 18, 2026 explainer, as a signpost to those official resources. Reporting scams to the IRS and to VA channels remains the primary path the federal guidance recommends; as the authorities put it, "Reporting scams helps protect others from becoming victims and assists in the investigation and prosecution of bad actors.