Are You Ready for the 2018 Tax Filing Season?
Are You Ready for the 2018 Tax Filing Season?
The tax season is just about here and that means it’s already past time to start getting ready to file your return. With that in mind, here are some tried and true tips that you can use to help you get prepared.
First off, start gathering all the important documents you will need to file your taxes. That includes W-2 Forms, 1099 Forms, and any other tax forms you receive. It’s also a good idea to gather pay stubs, receipts, bank statements, and any other paperwork that you will use to file your return. It’s never a bad idea to have a copy of the previous year’s return, as well.
If you have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) it might also be time to renew it. According to the IRS, any ITIN not used on a tax return in the past three years will expire on Dec. 31, 2017. Similarly, any ITIN with middle digits 70, 71, 72 or 80 will also expire at the end of the year. Anyone with an expiring ITIN who plans to file a return in 2018 will need to renew it using Form W-7.
This is an important step because if it’s not renewed, your refund could be delayed and you could lose important tax benefits.
Here is another thing to be aware of. The IRS cannot issue refunds for any taxpayers that claim the Additional Child tax Credit or Earned Income Credit before mid-February. So even if they file early, these individuals will not see their refund until around February 27, at the earliest.
Lastly, the IRS recommends using e-file in order to get your refund quicker and to use direct deposit as the safest way to receive your refund.
We hope you found this article about “Are You Ready for the 2018 Tax Filing Season?” helpful. If you have questions or need expert tax or family office advice that’s refreshingly objective (we never sell investments), please contact us or visit our Family office page or our website at www.GROCO.com. Unfortunately, we no longer give advice to other tax professionals gratis.
To receive our free newsletter, contact us here.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more updates.
Alan Olsen, is the Host of the American Dreams Show and the Managing Partner of GROCO.com. GROCO is a premier family office and tax advisory firm located in the San Francisco Bay area serving clients all over the world.
Alan L. Olsen, CPA, Wikipedia Bio
GROCO.com is a proud sponsor of The American Dreams Show.
The American Dreams show was the brainchild of Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA. It was originally created to fill a specific need; often inexperienced entrepreneurs lacked basic information about raising capital and how to successfully start a business.
Alan sincerely wanted to respond to the many requests from aspiring entrepreneurs asking for the information and introductions they needed. But he had to find a way to help in which his venture capital clients and friends would not mind.
The American Dreams show became the solution, first as a radio show and now with YouTube videos as well. Always respectful of interview guest’s time, he’s able to give access to individuals information and inspiration previously inaccessible to the first-time entrepreneurs who need it most.
They can listen to venture capitalists and successful business people explain first-hand, how they got to where they are, how to start a company, how to overcome challenges, how they see the future evolving, opportunities, work-life balance and so much more..
American Dreams discusses many topics from some of the world’s most successful individuals about their secrets to life’s success. Topics from guest have included:
Creating purpose in life / Building a foundation for their life / Solving problems / Finding fulfillment through philanthropy and service / Becoming self-reliant / Enhancing effective leadership / Balancing family and work…
MyPaths.com (Also sponsored by GROCO) provides free access to content and world-class entrepreneurs, influencers and thought leaders’ personal success stories. To help you find your path in life to true, sustainable success & happiness. It’s mission statement:
In an increasingly complex and difficult world, we hope to help you find your personal path in life and build a strong foundation by learning how others found success and happiness. True and sustainable success and happiness are different for each one of us but possible, often despite significant challenges.
Our mission at MyPaths.com is to provide resources and firsthand accounts of how others found their paths in life, so you can do the same.
Is the Government Going to Tax You for Using the Internet?
Is the Government Going to Tax You for Using the Internet? Taxes, taxes and more taxes: that appears to be the government’s answer for just about every problem we face in society. There seems to be no end to the list of things that the government wants to tax. Now it seems that Americans could…
Expecting An Audit? Expect to Wait
Expecting An Audit? Expect to Wait Have you ever been audited by the IRS? Have you been told that you might be audited soon? Are you waiting to be audited right now? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then chances are you have either played the waiting game or you’re playing it…
Seven Signs Your Noncompliance Will Be Considered Willful
Seven Signs Your Noncompliance Will Be Considered Willful There are many ways taxpayers can get the attention of the IRS. Although a lot of people make innocent mistakes when they file their tax returns, there are others who willfully look for ways to skip out on the taxes they owe. The IRS does treat those…
Make Sure Your Heirs Inherit What You Want
Make Sure Your Heirs Inherit What You Want. The saying goes that their only two things that are certain in life: death and taxes. While people can generate endless amounts of money when they’re alive, they can’t live forever and they can’t take that wealth with them when they die. However, they can have a…