如何为明年报税季做准备

不管你是否经常 雇佣税务专家 为了准备报税表，提前做好准备是值得的. (毕竟, the more time your tax preparer has to spend making sense of your financial records, 你欠他们的钱就越多.) And many tax preparers charge more the closer it gets to April 15, which is why it’s vital to start early and gather your materials well before the filing deadline.

This guide can help you prep for next year so you can sail through tax season as quickly as possible with or without the help of a professional.

创建一个归档系统

If you don’t already have a filing system in place for taxes and other important documents, 现在是时候创建一个了. This can be as simple as setting aside space in a filing cabinet or an expandable paper folder to keep everything you’ll need in one spot. 如果你的文件系统包括一个鞋盒, you might want to consider a small upgrade to a tabletop file box and hanging folders. 的 time you save not having to plow through mountains of paper receipts and digital clutter later will make the small expense totally worth it. (And you never want to have to ask yourself “Did I accidentally throw that important document away?”)

And if organization with your finances is something that you want to work on, a little one-on-one coaching can be just the thing to get where you want to go. 的 financefixxx 8周预算课程 他会告诉你预算的来龙去脉吗, 储蓄, organization and so much more — so your stress level come tax time next year is non-existent.

现在就调整你的预提

If you weren’t happy with this year’s tax outcome — if you ended up owing money when you would have preferred a refund — then now is the time to adjust your withholding information with your employer. 幸运的是，这很简单. Just contact your Human Resources Department and tell them you want to adjust your withholding on your W-4 form.

的y can give you a new form, and you can fill it out appropriately, based on what the IRS’s 扣缴计算器 (和/或你的税务会计师)根据你的情况建议. This one step can make a big difference on next year’s returns.

收集你的旧文件

用你的新文件系统, it’s wise to go ahead and gather last year’s tax returns and place them in the file (or make sure you have a digital copy at the ready)-. This old information will give you (or your tax preparer) a good place to start next year because you’ll likely qualify for some of the same deductions or write-offs you received last year, 这些信息可以帮助你计算今年的回报.

确定和跟踪可扣除的费用

2023年的标准扣除额更高(13美元),单身人士和已婚人士分别申报的费用为850英镑, $27,如果是夫妻共同申报，700美元，外加20美元,户主800元), many taxpayers who previously itemized may no longer find it worthwhile.

然而, if you think your itemized deductions may exceed the standard deduction ceiling mentioned here, gather documentation on these items throughout the year and save them:

• 已付按揭或居所利息(表格 1098)
• 已缴纳的不动产税和个人财产税
• 与购买或出售住宅有关的费用
• 医疗、眼科和牙科费用
• 慈善捐款
• 移动费用
• 学生贷款利息
• 学费及教育费
• 与工作有关的教育费用
• 未报销的与就业有关的费用
• 儿童保育费用
• 爱尔兰共和军的贡献
• 租金或其他业务的收入支出
• 伤亡或盗窃损失

Tracking your deductible expenses could mean creating an online (or paper) spreadsheet or something as simple as setting up a few digital folders in your email account where you move electronic statements and bills each month so that you don’t have to go through a year’s worth of expenses come tax season. Pro-tip: Use your smartphone or computer to set a 30-minute calendar appointment with yourself once a month or every three months as a reminder to track your deductions throughout the year.

As you may know, when you take a deduction, it reduces the amount of income you have to be taxed on. 所以你扣除的越多，就越少 你向国税局交的税.

也, 除了一般的工资报表，如W-2表格和1099表格, there are a few other items you’ll want to track and save during the year, 包括:利息及股息收入, 其他收入及已实现损益报告. (Note: If you didn’t make any sales during the last year, this last report isn’t necessary.)

让它自动化

When it comes to filing your taxes, go digital if you haven’t already. 这是从国税局收到退税最快的方式. 在拜访报税员之前, make sure to have your bank information and ID card available to set up a direct deposit for your refund, 如果你欠税，也可以自动支付. 的 routing information needed for direct deposits can usually be found on a paper check tied to a checking account.

如何寻求税务帮助

由美国国税局协调, 志愿者收入援助计划, 或个人简历, provides in-person tax preparation by an IRS-certified volunteer at no charge for those who qualify — typically people who make less than $58,1万美元一年, 残疾人士, 英语水平有限的人, 或者其他需要帮助的人. 查看您所在州可用的选项 免费税务准备帮助定位器 看看你是否有资格参加这个项目.*

*CUofCO不提供税务、法律或投资建议. This message does not represent official tax or legal advice, and you should always consult your tax or legal advisor with questions regarding tax issues.