There are few things in life more tedious that filing your taxes, so it’s no surprise that millions of consumers put it off until the last minute every year. But with the tax deadline quickly approaching on April 18, there isn’t much time left to procrastinate.
Follow these last-minute filing tips to help you save time, money and stress this tax season.
»RELATED: Move to cut Georgia income taxes fails, lease and yacht breaks pass
Get organized
Before you sit down to file, do some prep and gather necessary information. This includes any income and deduction documents, Social Security numbers for yourself, your spouse (if filing jointly) and your children, and the health care coverage form. Don’t forget to review your tax return from last year to make sure you have everything needed to support the same claims you plan to make this year.
Go the e-file route
Filing your taxes online is easier, faster and more secure than processing returns by mail. Plus, it can help prevent you from making costly math mistakes. In fact, the IRS found that 20% of income tax returns prepared on paper contained errors that caused people to overpay taxes, while only 1% of returns prepared electronically contained mistakes. Online tax software is very user-friendly, offering step-by-step assistance that even the most novice tax filers find easy to follow. And, don't forget: The IRS offers free filing options for people making less than $64,000.
»RELATED: The ultimate beginner’s guide for filing your taxes
Check out the rest of the tips at Clark.com.
About the Author
