It’s that time of year again: Typically, by midnight on April 15, taxpayers must e-file or mail their federal and, if applicable, state tax returns for the previous calendar tax year without penalty. Well before the deadline, though, it’s wise to do your prep work, hunting down the necessary documents, finding a tax pro or software to help you through the process, and learning about any new tax deductions or credits you might be eligible for.
It can definitely be a challenge to get organized, but by following certain steps, you can be ready to file properly and on time. Here, we’ll help you along with important tips, including:
• When is tax-filing season?
• How do you prepare for tax season?
• Should you hire a tax pro?
• Which tax documents do you need?
• By when do you need to file taxes?
When Is Tax Filing Season?
Tax season typically begins at the end of January. For tax year 2023, the filing season start date for individual tax returns is January 29. That’s the day when the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin accepting and processing 2023 tax returns.
You should receive a Form W-2 by January 31st or, with any mail delay, soon thereafter. The same deadline applies to 1099-NEC forms for independent contractors. Each financial institution that paid you at least $10 of interest during the year must send you a copy of the 1099-INT by January 31st as well.
The due date for individuals to file their taxes is usually April 15th of a given year or, if that falls on a weekend, the next following weekday. For most taxpayers, Tax Day for tax year 2023 is Monday, April 15, 2024. Residents of Maine and Massachusetts will have until April 17, 2024, due to state holidays.
It’s generally not a good idea to wait until the last minute to prepare for tax filing. If you work for one employer, your taxes may not be complicated, but if you have side gigs or you’re self-employed, your tax returns can take a while to fill out.
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13 Tax Prep Tips for 2024
Before filing, here’s how to prepare for tax season 2023.
1. Decide on Hiring a Pro or DIY
You can either prepare and file your taxes on your own or hire a professional. If you choose the latter, you can go to a tax preparation service like H&R Block or contact a local accountant or other tax pro. Some people feel more secure with a professional who can guide them through the process, know the latest deductions, and perhaps help them avoid IRS audit triggers.
The costs for a professional vary, and the more complicated a return is, generally the higher the costs will be.
The IRS has a tool where taxpayers can find a tax preparer near them with credentials or select qualifications. Doing so will mean paying a fee. How much? Tax preparation could run anywhere from $300 to $600 (or more), depending on where you live, how complicated your tax situation is, and how your tax professional charges for services.
Or, you could use software which is likely to cost less but require a greater investment of your time. For instance, TurboTax’s 2024 prices range from $89 and up, depending on whether you need additional features, like online assistance.
Recommended: How to File Taxes for Beginners
2. Consider Other Tax-Filing Options
You might also want to try this alternative: IRS Free File lets you prepare and file your federal income tax online for free. There are two options, based on income.
• You can file on an IRS partner site if your adjusted gross income was $79,000 or less. This is a guided preparation, and the online service does all the math.
• Those with income above $79,000 who know how to prepare their own taxes can choose the fillable forms option. The forms-based product can do basic calculations but will not provide step-by-step guidance. Also there is no state tax filing with this option.
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3. Collect Tax Documents
Gathering the right papers is an important part of preparing for tax season. By the end of January, you should have received tax documents from employers, brokerage firms, and others you did business with. They include a W-2 for a salaried worker and Form 1099-NEC if you were self-employed (gig worker or freelancer) or did independent contractor work amounting to over $600 last year.
Employers will send the documents in the mail or electronically.
Investors might receive these forms:
• 1099-B, which reports capital gains and losses
• 1099-DIV, which reports dividend income and capital gains distributions
• 1099-INT, which reports interest income
• 1099-R, which reports retirement account distributions
Other 1099 forms include:
• 1099-MISC, which reports miscellaneous income (such as prize money or payments receive for renting space or equipment)
• 1099-Q, which reports distributions from education savings accounts and 529 accounts
If you won anything while gambling, you’ll need to fill out Form W-2G. If you paid at least $600 in mortgage interest during the year, you’ll receive Form 1098, which you’ll need to claim a mortgage interest tax deduction.
A list of income-related forms can be found on the IRS website.
Last year’s federal return, and, if applicable, state return could be good reminders of what was filed last year and the documents used. That can help you pinpoint any missing tax documents.
4. Look Into Deductions and Credits
Wondering whether to take the standard deduction or itemize deductions? The higher figure is the winner.
The vast majority of Americans claim the standard deduction, the number subtracted from your income before you calculate the amount of tax you owe.
For tax year 2023, the standard deductions are:
• $13,850 for single filers and those married filing separately
• $27,700 for those married filing jointly
• $20,800 for heads of household
Those aged 65 or older or who are blind can claim an additional standard deduction of $1,500 (for married filers) or $1,850 (for single or head of household filers).
Individuals interested in itemizing tax deductions can look into whether they’re eligible for a long list of deductions like a home office (and, if eligible, whether to use the simplified option for computing the deduction), education deductions, healthcare deductions, and investment-related deductions.
You might benefit from itemizing deductions if any of these apply:
• You own a home and the total of your mortgage interest, points, mortgage insurance premiums, and real estate taxes are greater than the standard deduction.
• Your state and local taxes (including real estate, property, income, and sales taxes) plus your mortgage interest exceed the standard deduction.
• You spent more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income for out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Then there are tax credits, a dollar-for-dollar reduction of the income tax you owe. So if you owe, say, $1,500 in federal taxes but are eligible for $1,500 in tax credits, your tax liability is zero.
There are family and dependent credits, healthcare credits, education credits, homeowner credits, and income and savings credits. Taxpayers can see the entire tax credits and deductions list on the IRS website.
Recommended: What Tax Bracket Am I In?
5. Be Sure to Include Dependents’ IDs
Details count (a lot) when filing your return, and one important point to include is the Social Security numbers for any children and other dependents. If you omit this, you may lose any dependent credits, like the Child Tax Credit, that you qualify for.
Also know that if you are divorced, only one parent can claim children as dependents.
6. Update Beneficiary Designations
On the subject of children, tax time is a good time to review and update beneficiary designations. While it won’t change your tax-filing calculations, it will potentially reduce the tax burden your beneficiaries may pay on what they inherit after you die.
7. Add to Your Retirement Contributions
As you get ready for tax filing, it’s wise to check your progress towards your retirement fund (hopefully you have one). Money that you put into a 401(k), 403(b), or other tax-deferred account reduces your taxable income. In other words, it helps minimize your tax bill. The contributions you make generally aren’t taxed until you decide to withdraw funds.
If you feel you can afford to contribute more, know that for 2023, the limits for tax deferred contributions are $22,500 for 401(k) accounts, with an additional $7,500 for catch-up contributions for taxpayers who are age 50 or older. Check the IRS website for more details.
8. Take Any Required Minimum Distributions
Another tax-filing tip: If you’ve reached retirement age, make sure you take any distributions that are necessary. You generally must start taking withdrawals from your traditional IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and retirement plan accounts when you reach age 72 (73 if you reach age 72 after Dec. 31, 2022). When you reach the minimum age, you can delay your first mandatory withdrawal until April 1 of the following year. From then on, however, you must take your annual required minimum distribution (RMD) by December 31. If you miss the RMD deadline, you may get hit with a penalty of 25% of the RMD total.
9. Make a Final Estimated Tax Payment
Taxpayers who do not have taxes withheld from their paychecks can pay estimated taxes every quarter to avoid owing a big chunk of change come Tax Day.
In 2023, quarterly estimated taxes were due on April 18th, June 15th, and September 15th, with the fourth due early in the next year, on January 16th, 2023.
10. Apply for a Payment Plan If Needed
What happens if you discover, at tax-filing time, that you can’t pay the full amount you owe? One option is to pay as much as you can and then set up a payment plan with the IRS for the rest. This is a method that gives you a longer time frame in which to pay what you owe. Depending on whether you have a short-term or long-term IRS payment plan , there may be setup fees.
11. File Electronically
Here’s an important tip: Prioritize filing electronically, especially if you anticipate receiving a refund. Electronic returns can typically be processed more quickly than paper ones, which means you’ll get your infusion of cash that much sooner.
Another benefit of filing this way is that your return is much less likely to have errors. Electronic returns tend to have just 0.5% with errors. But for “hard copy” paper returns, that number ratchets up to about 21% with mistakes.
12. Decide Whether to File for an Extension
What if you don’t quite have your act together and your tax-filing materials ready to roll on time? It happens. If you need more time to prepare your 2023 federal tax return, you can electronically request an extension by filing Form 4868 by April 15, 2024. This gives you until October 15, 2024 to file a completed return. Just keep in mind: Even if you file an extension, you are required to pay any taxes you may owe by the April deadline.
13. Avoid Tax Season Scams
Filing a tax return can be enough to keep you busy without worrying about getting scammed. But unfortunately, there are fraudsters out there, trying to take advantage of the season. For instance, you might get an email, phone call, or even a text message that says it’s from the IRS. They may say there’s an issue with a return of yours and that they need to speak with you ASAP. Don’t fall for it: The only way the IRS will ever communicate with you is via U.S. mail, unless you are involved in some kind of litigation with them.
The Benefits of Getting Prepared Early
Now that you’ve learned more about tax filing, here are some reasons to get started sooner rather than later on your return.
• Avoid deadline anxiety. For some people, procrastination can lead to a lot of stress as the filing date approaches. They risk having to pull the proverbial all-nighter to get their return done on time or wind up blowing the deadline. By starting sooner, you can chip away at the process of pulling materials together and completing forms and breathe a little easier.
• Dodge processing delays. If you file earlier, you are likely to slip in before the deluge of returns hits the IRS’s offices. You might even get your refund (if you’re due one) sooner.
• Take the time to plan. Perhaps you know you’re going to owe money. Or, maybe you’re not sure if that’s the case. In either scenario, starting the tax-filing process earlier will give you time to see what you may owe and then figure out how to pay any funds that are due.
Recommended: Tax Preparation Checklist 2024: Documents You Need to Gather
The Takeaway
“Tax prep” isn’t a phrase signaling that big fun is on the way, but putting off the inevitable probably isn’t the best choice. To save yourself stress, you’ll want to prepare for tax season as early as possible by gathering documents and information, choosing a preparer or getting ready to DIY, and learning about tax credits and deductions.
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FAQ
When can I start filing my taxes?
Tax-filing season for 2023 tax returns begins on January 29, 2024. That’s the day the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin processing tax returns.
Should I use a tax preparer?
It’s a personal choice whether to hire a tax preparer or file your taxes yourself. A tax preparer will likely reduce the time you have to spend doing your taxes and can apply their professional knowledge to help you know what credits and deductions you qualify for. However, you will have to pay a fee for this service, which could run anywhere from $300 to $600 (or more), depending on where you live and how complicated your tax situation is.
What documents do I need to prepare for tax season?
You’ll need to gather a variety of documents for tax season, including income received (W-2s and/or 1099s to show earnings, and 1099s that reflect interest and dividends earned), records of deductions (relating to home ownership, charitable donations, medical expenses, educational costs, and the like). And, of course, you’ll need personal information like your Social Security number and that of any dependents.
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