Tax Day, April 15, is less than two weeks away, which leaves very little time to prepare and file state and federal taxes. It’s never good to wait for the last minute to do your taxes, but if you did, we have some helpful tips to make it easier for you to get through.
Get organized!
Before you even sign up for that TurboTax or H&R Block account, the most important thing to do is get yourself organized. You’ll want to gather any and all tax forms, like W-2s, you have and get them in order. You’ll also want to gather any other documents you might need for your taxes. These include receipts for deductible purchases, former tax returns (for reference’s sake) and any other document showing income other than your W-2.
Take your time
As important as it is to be organized, it’s also crucially important that you take your time while preparing your taxes. Remember in school when you had a paper to do and you waited until the last minute to write it? That paper, versus one that was better planned, was probably not your best work. Your taxes are similar. If you rush through the process too quickly, there’s a chance you might miss something, like a deduction, that could change your tax return.
Review, review, review
Once you’ve finished preparing all your tax forms, take the time to review everything you’ve done. As we mentioned before, it’s possible to miss things along the way. Reviewing your work may add a little extra time to the process, but trust us, it’s worth it.
Ask for help
Let’s face it, taxes can be pretty complicated. If you’re not confident in your ability to get through the paperwork yourself, there’s no shame in seeking the help of a professional accountant. Not only will he or she know the ins and outs of the tax system, but they may be able to maximize your refund. If you follow these four tips, you’ll have a much easier time getting your taxes done this year. And if you have any suggestions for doing taxes, don’t hesitate to tell us in the comments!
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