Yes, I've put it off a bit -- and since I'll be out of town next weekend, time to crack down and get it done.

My two pieces of advice:

1. TurboTax -- or some sort of prep software -- has become essential, unless you have very, very, very simple tax stuff to do. (And if you have any sorts of complications, it's probably worth going to a tax accountant or attorney to make sure you get it right). It's sad that our tax code has gotten that complicated, but there it is.
2. I keep a space in the downstairs cabinets where I throw in anything tax-related for the year. Receipts for contributions, check registers, everything. I sort it out at tax time. That seems to work great (and beats the hell out of having to dig all that stuff out of the overall bill basket).
3. A check-writing / bill-paying service is darned handy for identifying other contributions.
4. Reviewing last year's taxes is also helpful to remind you of stuff that needs to be done this year.

I don't claim any special virtue or abilities when it comes to tax accounting. But those things just make life easier, I find.

UPDATE: 8:30 p.m. and all's well. Took a few hours off to go to dinner with the family along with Jackie and Kaylee, to White Fence Farms. Yum. And ...

Between what we have to send to Uncle Sam and get back from Uncle Bill, we're only about $200 in the red, which isn't too bad, all things considered.

Filed under :: Personal
Link · Print · Edit · TR/G