Written In Collaboration With Courtney Dec
No matter who you are or what you do, filing your taxes can be a stressful and anxiety filled task. Tax season is no one’s favorite season, definitely not mine. (Sound of head banging against the desk.) Well, don’t worry, I have compiled a list of things you will need to get together so you aren’t panicking when the time comes.
Whether you are self-employed, work for someone, or are currently looking for work, the following items are the things you will need when doing your taxes:
- Your social security number
- W-2 and 1099 statements
- Tax return from previous year
- Personal ID number
- Benefit statements
- EIN number (if you’re an owner of your own business)
- Income and expense receipts
There are different ways to go about filing your taxes, whether it is doing it yourself or hiring someone to do it for you. Some easy and well-known websites that can be used include the IRS Website, TurboTax, H&R Block and many more. Some of the websites have free downloads of forms that will be needed and some require payment. Either way, no matter what your budget is, there is a website for you.
Remember to ask as many questions as possible if you use an accountant to file your taxes. Their job is to find all those hidden deductions. If you use an electronic program, take the time to go through all of the tutorials to make sure you are taking every possible advantage on your tax returns. Believe me, taking the extra time will pay off. No sense to pay Uncle Sam more than you need to.
Now that you know what to get together, make a plan! Set aside what you need to get your taxes done, so when people around you are scrambling you will sit back with a glass of wine and relax.
