The annual chore of filing taxes often brings anxiety and overwhelm for many Americans. Sorting through piles of paperwork, hunting down obscure forms, and deciphering pages of complicated instructions can make the process seem daunting. However, some simple strategies can help streamline tax filing and save both time and headaches. A few handy tips can turn this daunting task into a walk in the park. Imagine, if you will, a world where filing your taxes isn’t a chore but a manageable task executed with precision and ease. Our goal isn’t just to help you understand tax filing but also to provide you with tools that make it simpler, smoother, and almost, dare we say, enjoyable. This blog post outlines three tips for making taxes less painful in 2023.   

Our tips aim to simplify the process, ultimately aiding in the transformation of this annual chore into a mere breeze. In our endeavor to provide useful, actionable advice, let’s focus on one of the essential elements in the tax filing process, which is your pay stub. This often overlooked piece of paper holds significant value when it comes to making tax filing easier. Think of your pay stub as a nugget of gold in the mine of tax filing. With each detail meticulously recorded, from your earnings to deductions, it guides you through the labyrinth of tax forms. Understanding your pay stub can be the key to a smoother tax filing experience. So, as we delve into these tips, remember to have your pay stub handy, for it can be the most potent tool in your tax filing arsenal.

1. Understand What You Need Before You File

A key frustration that fuels tax time stress is needing more materials available when it’s finally time to sit down and prepare returns. To avoid this, take some time beforehand to understand exactly what items you’ll need to pull together. At a minimum, these will likely include a W-2 showing your salary and withholdings from your employer, a 1099-MISC for any freelance or contract work, 1099 forms reporting investment income, receipts for charitable donations and business expenses, mortgage interest statements, and records of other deductible expenses. 

You’ll also need your social security number, bank account, and particular routing numbers for direct deposit, as well as a copy of your previous year’s return for reference. If you have rental property income or own a business, be sure to gather the additional forms and documentation required for reporting these activities. Making a list of what’s needed based on your circumstances and tracking down all these items well ahead of the filing deadline will prevent frantic searching amid looming due dates.

2. Get Organised with Tax Preparation Software

Once you’ve gathered all the required documents and forms, the next hurdle is organizing everything before entering it into tax prep software or handing it over to your accountant. Here, technology can make a huge difference in streamlining the process. With user-friendly DIY tax software like TurboTax, you can easily upload a pay stub, your investment statements, and other tax documents directly into the program. 

The software allows you to import W-2 and 1099 forms by taking a picture with your smartphone camera or uploading a digital copy. This eliminates the need to input figures from every form manually and ensures accurate reporting. You can also drag and drop receipts and records for deductions and credits to have information seamlessly pulled into the proper fields. This organization makes it easier to locate supporting documents if questions arise later. Tax prep software with auto-fill and import capabilities cuts tedious data entry and keeps everything in one digital place.

3. Get Help from a Pro When Needed

While DIY tax prep works for many filers, some situations are complicated enough to warrant professional help. If you own extensive investments or businesses, sold your home recently, had major life changes like marriage or children, or need more confidence tackling your tax return on your own, consider retaining a tax professional. Hiring someone to prepare or review your taxes ensures you maximize every possible deduction and credit while avoiding costly mistakes. Though paying for tax help represents an added expense up front, a qualified preparer makes sure you take advantage of every tax-saving opportunity and often recoup their fee multiple times over. 

Even filers who prepare their own basic returns can benefit from periodically consulting a tax professional for a comprehensive review. They may identify overlooked deductions or other ways to reduce your tax liability. Though programs like TurboTax cover common situations, a seasoned accountant can navigate more complex scenarios. Their expertise and knowledge of the latest tax code changes may uncover savings you would miss tackling taxes solo.

For moderate- to high-income filers, the cost of hiring help is usually a wise investment. Though some may bristle at paying for something typically seen as a DIY job, a preparer acts like your personal financial advisor at tax time. The tax savings they identify generally more than justify the fee for their services. Rather than dreading tax time, filers who get help report feeling a sense of relief and assurance, knowing their returns were completed accurately and advantageously by a trusted professional.

Final Thoughts

You’ll need to have some key personal information on hand, like your social security number, which is required identification on all tax forms, as well as your bank account and particular routing numbers if you want to set up direct deposit for any potential refund to streamline receiving your money. Having these numbers readily available eliminates hunting for them when you’re trying to file. You’ll also want your previous year’s tax return available as a guide to double-check things like your past filing status, deductions taken, income sources, etc. Additionally, if you have extra income like rental properties or a small business, be sure to gather the extra tax forms you’ll need to report that income and expenses. Making a comprehensive list ahead of time of every tax document and piece of information you’ll need based on your personal situation is key to avoiding frantically realizing you’re missing something close to filing deadlines.