Tax season is here! The HR Service Partners team works tirelessly to prevent headaches and save employees money and time during this period. Before filing their taxes, employees should make sure to know the following information and items ahead of time.
What Do I Need To Know Before I File My Taxes?
For many, filing taxes may seem daunting. But with proper planning and organization, the task of filing your taxes can be less stressful. While there's not a one-size-fits-all model to follow for tax filing, experts agree that strategizing and knowing who to contact for assistance is a smart first step in the process.
Taking advantage of the resources in your community is an avenue to explore for individuals new to tax filing or who meet the income threshold for assistance. The IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program has volunteers that can help file your taxes and give tax advice. You can call and ask the volunteers questions and file online free with the IRS.
What Items Do I Need to File My Taxes?
Like many of us, you may be typing "what documents do I need to file my taxes?" into your desktop browser. Many tax brokers provide a documents checklist that is easily accessed anytime. The documents needed to file are as individual as the person filing them. Below are a sample of categories for documents and forms needed to get started.
Personal Information
Income and Investment Information
Dependent(s) Information
Sources of Income
Medical Expense Receipts and Records
Types of Deductions
Charitable Donations
Other Homeownership Information
I've Filed My Taxes. What Should I Do Next?
Aside from breathing a sigh of relief for completing your tax filing, it is also important to exercise patience to minimize frustration. The IRS, like many organizations, is experiencing similar struggles with hiring and retaining high-quality employees.
Make an effort to stay organized and gather all your documents after filing. If you need to call or contact the IRS or another service, be patient and try your best to get there early and be first in line, whether in person or via phone.
TaxSlayer.com offers these additional steps to follow after filing:
Check your return status
Correct errors if your return was rejected
Pay your tax bill, if you have one
Check your IRS refund status
Make a file for your records
Save and spend your refund wisely
Takeaway
Tax season creates more headaches than needed, stay organized and on top of your information so that you have everything you need when you need to file. If you have any questions or concerns, contact our team today and we will help alleviate any tax woes this season.