| As we turn into the new year, hope springs | | | | organized now and you can cut down on the |
| eternal. In other news, it is almost tax | | | | pain later. |
| season. Here are a few hints to help you get | | | | |
| ready and keep the pain of preparing taxes to | | | | Forms - As you know by now, filing your taxes |
| a minimum. | | | | is all about forms. You will need one |
| | | | variation of the 1040 pursuant to your tax |
| Advice On Getting Ready to File Your Taxes | | | | situation. You are probably going to also |
| | | | need various schedules and odd forms. While |
| Well, the holidays are over and the final | | | | you can print most of them off the IRS site, |
| college football bowl game has been played. | | | | a few must be tracked down in physical form |
| It is time to get serious about your goals | | | | because the IRS requires they be "scannable" |
| for 2007. While dealing with your taxes is | | | | by the IRS computers, the precursors to the |
| probably not one of those goals, you need to | | | | SkyNet death computers in the Terminator |
| start thinking about them. If you begin | | | | movies. Nothing is worse than driving around |
| taking action now, you can limit the sting | | | | a day before taxes are due trying to find the |
| when the deadlines start approaching. Here | | | | right forms. |
| are few tips to consider. | | | | |
| | | | Mulla - After spending more than you probably |
| 1099s - If you paid independent contractors | | | | should have during the holidays, it is time |
| for services in excess of $600, the deadline | | | | to start thinking about money again. If you |
| for filing 1099s is fast approaching. It is | | | | are going to owe the IRS, start figuring out |
| January 31. Yep, you have to have the form in | | | | how you are going to come up with the cash. |
| the mail to them by that time, which means | | | | The IRS now takes credit cards, but you |
| you need to figure out how much you paid to | | | | probably wiped those out during the holidays! |
| whom and get some forms as well. | | | | |
| | | | Dealing with your taxes is probably not high |
| Records - Half the battle with tax | | | | on your list of things to do. Much like |
| preparation is tracking down your receipts | | | | finding car insurance, it is just one of |
| and records. Highly organized people will | | | | those things you have to do. Spread the task |
| have kept them organized throughout the year. | | | | out over time and it should be less painful |
| Then there are the rest of us. Start getting | | | | than dealing with it at the last moment. |