THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996            TAG: 9602290315
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A5   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                         LENGTH: Short :   30 lines

COMMITTEE ADOPTS TAX BREAKS FOR TROOPS IN FORMER YUGOSLAVIA

Legislation offering assorted tax relief for U.S. troops serving in the former Yugoslavia was passed unanimously by the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday.

The bipartisan bill, similar to legislation proposed by the administration, would allow President Clinton to extend the same tax benefits usually given service members during wartime. The former Yugoslavia is not considered a combat zone.

The bill would exclude from federal income tax all earnings by enlisted personnel and warrant officers for any month they are in those countries during the Operation Joint Endeavor peace mission.

Tax-filing and payment deadlines would be extended for everyone serving in Joint Endeavor, including about 5,400 people performing support missions in Hungary, Italy and aboard Navy ships in the Adriatic.

The tax breaks are retroactive to Nov. 21, 1995.

KEYWORDS: MILITARY INCOME TAX by CNB