Tax season is now upon us. To make the process as smooth as possible and to prevent issues down the road, here are some tips:
Create an Online Tax Account
One of the most common issues I see has to do with estimated tax payments. An easy way to fix this is to pay all your estimated tax payments through irs.gov and your state’s department of taxation website. This will help prevent misapplied payments by the taxing authorities and ensure the correct reporting of estimated tax payments on your return by being able to view tax payments online.
Make a List of All Documents Needed
Look at your prior year’s tax return and make a list of everything used to complete the return. If anything has changed, such as starting a new business or job, then add those items to your list of items needed. This way, there will be no issues with processing your return by the taxing authorities.
Report all 1099’s
1099 reporting is very comprehensive and can include items such as 1099’s from self-employment income, rental income, investment income and the sale of your home. If you want to avoid a scary notice showing an enormous tax liability, then make sure to include all your 1099’s.
Direct Deposit
As of September 30, 2025, the IRS began phasing out paper tax refund checks. Make sure to have any refunds directly deposited into your bank account.