If all the annoying commercials haven't made it clear yet, tax season is here, and there is no getting around it.
Tax-preparation services have done a good job making you feel like you need to use them, so they can take the burden off of your shoulders. While this is true, there is some work that you still need to do to make sure your filing is accurate (and you save some money).
Whether you're doing it yourself or heading to an accountant or tax service, you will want to keep the following tips in mind as you get your documents in order.
Get Your Information Right
It may seem simple, but you have to make sure that your Social Security number is correct, your name (and the name of your spouse, if you are married) is spelled correctly, and that you're putting the right numbers on the right lines.
Report All of Your Income
If you are one of the millions of people with a side hustle, such as an AirBnB or driving for Uber, then you have to report that income as well, not just the money from your day job.
If the company you earn money with on the side does not issue you a 1099 tax form, you still must report the income that you earned.
Consider Itemizing Your Deductions
Many people simply take the standard deduction on their taxes to lower their taxable income. However, if you donate a lot of money to charity, have significant out-of-pocket medical expenses, or own a home, you may save more money by itemizing your deductions instead of simply claiming the standard deduction.
Adjust Your Withholding if You Owed
A lot of people end up getting back a nice chunk of change from Uncle Sam, but the rest of us are often left grumbling about having to write that extra check.
The big tax reform law of 2018 may have put more money in your paycheck, but that change led to many people owing money comes tax time. If that happened to you, you need to ask your employer for a copy of your W-4 and have more money withheld from your paycheck. Unless, of course, you want to get an interest free loan from the government every year that you have to pay back all at once.
Give Yourself Time to Get It Done Right
The earlier you get to work on filing your taxes, the less likely you are to make a mistake that could cost you a lot of time and money trying to resolve. If you wait until April 1 to call around to tax preparation services, you may find that no one has time to help you. Being diligent will pay off. Good luck!
Related Resources:
- Find a Tax Attorney Near You (FindLaw's Lawyer Directory)
- Tax Day FAQ: What You Need to Know for April 15 (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- When Is It Too Late to File My Taxes? (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- 7 Key Tax Deductions You Can No Longer Claim in 2018 (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
