Tips for Filing Your Tax Return

Tax season is here and the deadline for filing your tax returns is nearing. If you are not sure where to start, these five tips may help as you prepare to send your tax returns to the IRS and state authorities.

1.Get Organized

You should review all financial activities throughout the year and collect any applicable documents that you will need to file your tax returns. Consider if you have sold stock, purchased online products without paying tax, re-located due to a change in employment, etc. These are all items that you will need to record on your tax return.

As the W-2s and 1099s start coming in, store them in a file with the rest of your tax documents. Organization is a key component to making tax filing less stressful.  If you have your own business, organize all your receipts and expense journal from the previous year.

2.Prepare Your Tax Returns

After you have organized all of your tax documents and financial information from the previous year, you are ready to prepare your tax returns. Consider your options: You can prepare the tax returns yourself using tax software, or you can hire a paid preparer. IRS Statistics showed that last year, over 34 million e-filed tax returns were self-prepared. Be aware that self-prepared returns have an increased chance for error. If using a tax preparer, make sure they have all your tax documents early, otherwise, you may have to file an extension.

3.Did you take all of your deductions and credits?

To maximize your refund, review all of the credits and deductions that you can take. A CPA can help you learn more about deductions/credits that you are eligible for, but consider some of the following:

•First-Time Homebuyer Credit
•Child Tax Credit
•Earned Income Credit
•Education Credits
•Charitable Contributions

4.Double Check your Return

Are you ready to submit your tax return? Carefully review your tax return to ensure that there aren’t any mistakes that will delay your refund.

•Did you sign and date your tax return?
•Do you have the correct social security number on your tax return?
•Is your filing status correct?
•Did you use the correct forms/schedules?
•Did you claim eligible dependents?
•Did you report all of your income even if it is not on a W-2 or 1099?
•Do you need to pay and/or report payroll tax?

5.File Your Tax Return

As you prepare to submit your tax return to the IRS, consider your options. You can e-file or paper file your tax return. The turn-a-round time for refunds is much quicker with e-filing, but the IRS still accepts paper-filed returns.

For more information on filing your tax return this year, contact us at 866-CPA-2006

 

We hope you found this article about “Tips for Filing Your Tax Return” 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.

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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

 

 

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