Ready or not, tax season is here, and the deadline is quickly approaching. This year, Tax Day is April 18, 2022. If you haven’t submitted yet, don’t panic, prepare. These four steps may help simplify the process of filing your taxes.
1. Get your documents in order
You might have elected to receive your tax documents electronically, or you could be working with old-school paperwork. Either way, the first step is to create some sort of system to collect and organize all your tax documents. The system doesn’t need to be complicated – it can simply be a digital or physical file where you collect everything you’ll need when filing your taxes.
For federal taxes, check out this tax form checklist created by IRS.com, which lists out every document and piece of information you will likely need to file. In addition to documents that represent income like a W-2, this checklist can also help you prepare for any income adjustments or credits you might be eligible for. If you plan to file for tax deductions for any expenses, keep in mind that you will also need to have receipts for those expenses ready when you file your taxes. And if you took advantage of the CARES Act (withdrawing from a retirement account or pausing payments on student loans without the usual penalties) have those records on hand as well.
2. Choose a tax professional or a do-it-yourself option
If you plan to get outside help on your taxes, make an appointment with a tax preparer sooner rather than later to ensure you can get your taxes filed before the deadline. And before you meet with them, be sure to have a conversation about your level of involvement. Some people choose to simply hand off all their documents and let the professional do the rest, while others prefer to be more hands on throughout the process.
If you would like to file yourself, you might want to get your hands on some tax preparation software, like TurboTax, TaxSlayer, or H&R Block’s tax preparation software, that will allow you to be hands-on during the process but still provide a little guidance. These programs are designed to walk you through the process step-by-step by asking simple questions and prompting you to upload any required documents.
To make filing your taxes even easier, we’ve teamed up with TurboTax® to offer Ally customers an exclusive discount. Register here to get help from real tax experts and save up to $20.
3. Make note of any changes
Every year can bring changes to tax regulations. Take a few minutes to make yourself aware of any changes that may affect you and your refund (or bill) for this tax year. Be sure to note any new filing requirements, which can be found on the IRS website.
Prior to filing, it’s also a good idea to reflect back on the previous year and make a list of any significant life events that might affect how you file. Any big milestones like buying a house, getting married, adding or losing dependents, or a new job should be noted. Depending on what personal changes occurred during the last year, do some quick research to educate yourself on the guidelines, possible deductions, or credits that you might be eligible for.
4. Decide how you will file
Once you’re ready to file your taxes, you have the choice to do so electronically, or mail in paper forms. Last year, 81.3% of U.S. residents filed their taxes electronically. However, a recent NerdWallet study found that millennial taxpayers (aged 18-34) are more likely to use the paper option – 17% versus 8% of those who are 35 or older.
If you prefer a paper option, know that you’ll need to download the forms from the IRS website. Thanks to the popularity of electronic filing, the U.S. no longer mails paper tax forms automatically.
Prepare and conquer the season
It’s understandable to get a little stressed out during tax season. The paperwork, process and precision required can be overwhelming. But with a little bit of preparation and the right tools for the job, you can stress a little less about filing your tax return and stride through the season.
This year you can save up to $20 when you file with TurboTax®.
Comment on this article
Comments
Denny b. on February 8, 2021 at 9:41am
Thanks for helping about getting ready for taxes
Gail M. on January 21, 2022 at 11:20am
My husband passed two years ago and he did the taxes; so I ended up paying a penalty for our state taxes, I believe it was because a 1099 wasn't filed. We are retired so we never worked. I had an account do our taxes. This article was very helpful. I tried to print it but it wouldn't print.
J w. on February 2, 2022 at 7:16pm
I love tax filing discounts! Thanks for the tips
John M. on February 3, 2022 at 9:35am
Where to spend my money. I know i can give it to you.
Ally on February 3, 2022 at 9:36am
Hi John, please give us a call at 1-877-247-2559, so we can assist further.
John M. on February 3, 2022 at 9:37am
Why would I let you install anything on my computer?
John M. on February 3, 2022 at 9:40am
What is your biggest financial fear? Missing Choices: :::: Not being able to spend enough money each year.
Graeme on February 11, 2022 at 2:25am
I would appreciate a list of tax-filing services that automatically import Ally forms, rather than a promo for one paid service that I can't use the free version for.
Ally on February 11, 2022 at 2:26am
Hi, thanks for reaching out. We appreciate your feedback and will share this with our team for further review.
Emily on February 16, 2022 at 3:30pm
When will Ally's forms be available to file? Your website says they will be ready by 1/31?
Ally on February 16, 2022 at 3:31pm
Hi Emily, please give us a call at 1-855-880-2559, so we can assist further.
Rebecca G. on March 15, 2022 at 6:00pm
You never sent my 1099 even though I requested it several times.
Ally on March 15, 2022 at 6:01pm
Hi Rebecca, we apologize for any inconvenience. Please give us a call at 1-855-880-2559, so we can look into this for you.