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Taxes Information |
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Uncle Sam is Ready...Are You? Organizing Tips for Tax Time
Anyone who is closely related to an accountant knows that there are not four, but five seasons in a year: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and 'Tax Season.' During the other seasons, we accumulate leaves, snow, and mosquito bites. During 'Tax Season' we accumulate paper. And more paper. And if you have a small business or investments--even more paper. Whether you hire someone to prepare your taxes or attempt to decipher the forms yourself, it is imperative that your papers be in order for this 'fifth season.' Organizing your tax-related documents is not just a project for the evening of April 13th. Good tax organization is a year-round process. Some pitfalls of being disorganized at tax time:
How to remedy these tax-time situations? Prepare now for next year by getting organized! Set up an all-year round file system Designate a box, accordion file, or a file cabinet for year-round paper storage and retrieval. Create folders for receipts, credit card and bank statements, anything you have spent money on or need to keep track of for tax purposes. As you acquire such documents, place them in the appropriately labeled folder. This is beneficial not only for tax time but for when you have to retrieve certain papers throughout the year. Give your tax-related papers a home Every January, our mailboxes become flooded with documents necessary for filing your taxes. At the beginning of the year, designate a large envelope or box in one area of your home or a file in your file cabinet for these papers. Examples of these are:
Sort and create categories for your papers/receipts By early February you should have received all paperwork necessary to complete your taxes. Take that envelope/box/file of collected papers and sort them by category. This process will enable you or your tax preparer to quickly locate your papers and receipts. Some basic categories are:
Save your tax preparer aggravation by throwing away the envelopes that your statements came in and tear off the perforated edges from your income statements. Group the documents into the categories you've created and paper clip them together. Place all of these papers in a folder or large envelope. Call your tax preparer early If you're using a tax preparer, call in January to schedule a mid to late February tax appointment. Doing this forces you to organize and compile all the necessary information by that date. Also, accountants get very busy as April 15th approaches. You don't want an exhausted accountant doing your taxes... Being organized at tax time will give you greater control over the tax preparation process. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you will feel a sense of calm and accomplishment. Instead of frantically searching for documents you will be able to produce them at a moment's notice. Instead of your accountant cursing your name, he/she will sing your praises when you present them with an envelope of organized papers and receipts. The sooner you get organized for tax time the sooner you may get that big refund check. If that's not motivation enough, I don't know what is... About The Author Stacey Agin Murray, professional organizer and owner of Organized Artistry, LLC, transforms mess into masterpiece with patience, organizing know-how, and a sense of humor. For a free e-list of Top Ten Tips for Organized Living, or to order your copy of 7 Steps to an Organized Wedding Thank You Note please visit her web site at http://www.organizedartistry.com.
MORE RESOURCES: BLAKELY — Garbage fees will rise, but Blakely Borough Council doesn’t plan to hike electric rates or add property taxes as part of its proposed 2009 budget presented this week. MARBLEHEAD and mdash; Homeowners will pay more in property taxes next year. A tax rate of $8.99 and mdash; up from $8.34 and mdash; was announced Wednesday by assistant assessor Michael Tumulty. That translates into a bill for the median single-family homeowner that rises from $4,511 to $4,665. It's an increase of $114 or 3.4 percent. GREENFIELD - The value of single-family homes in the city has dropped, but the tax rate is projected to rise, yielding an overall increase in taxes for the average homeowner. The Three Gorges Project has turned over a total 20.277 billion yuan in national taxes since its first generating unit began operation on July 10, 2003, according to the State Administration of Taxation of the Three Gorges dam zone in Yichang, Hubei province. Since the first turbine generator was put in use, there are now 26 turbine generators in operation as of October 30 this year. By adding ... ST. PAUL (AP) — Minnesotans are set to pay more property taxes next year if a number of proposed local tax levies are adopted. The government should move to collect taxes on assets to help close off loopholes in the tax system and raise funds to develop the country's social safety net, according to local academics. Despite a stable general fund budget and no projected increase in real estate taxes, there was a downside to the Loyalsock Township budget work session Thursday afternoon. It involved another sewer rate increase as the township deals with federal- and state-mandated sewer system improvements. Residents will see a 15-percent increase in sewer rates for 2009. The Treasurer Michael Aird is not ruling out new taxes as Tasmania faces financial circumstances he is calling exceptional. (Springfield, MO) -- Have you got your property tax bill in the mail yet? Notices for real estate and personal property taxes were mailed out in Greene County last week. RALEIGH, N.C. -- Higher taxes or fees for drivers and vehicle owners could be on the horizon if the Legislature agrees with recommendations tentatively approved Wednesday by a state transportation panel. The 21st Century Transportation Committee asked the General Assembly to consider raising the automobile sales tax and vehicle registration fees or even charging motorists for how many miles they ... |
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