Are you hiring someone else to prepare your taxes this year?
If so, you’ll be glad to know that, as long as you hire a qualified preparer,
this is almost always a smart move. You can help make your preparer’s job a lot
easier...and do the same for yourself as well...by making sure to provide all
of the necessary documentation to your tax adviser as soon as possible.
The sooner you do this, the more quickly your tax preparer
can get going on your taxes, and thus, the sooner you’ll see a return. Plus,
giving everything over to your preparer all at once definitely beats a lot of
back and forth trips because you forgot something. Keep reading for a rundown
of what you’re most likely to need.
Proper Identification
First things first, your tax adviser is going to need to
see and make a copy of an official identification document. For most people,
this simply means handing over their driver’s license. If you don’t have one,
however, a passport and/or a state-issued identification card will usually do
the trick. Be sure to bring along your social security card as well, and you
should be all set.
Proof of Expenses
Another thing you’ll want to bring along, especially if you
are trying to qualify for some deductions, is proof of any expenses that you
have incurred. Being able to prove and deduct these expenses can save you a
nice chunk of money, so be sure to bring proof of any of the following types of
typically deductible expenses for your tax preparer to look over:
l Any
expenses related to being self-employed
l Mortgage
interest
l Employee
business expenses
l Charitable
contributions
l Education
expenses related to employment
l Medical
expenses that exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income
l Union
payments
l IRA/Retirement
plan contributions
Bank Account Information
Make sure you don’t leave your bank account information at
home! You might need it to make a payment or, if you’re lucky, to set up direct
deposit for your tax refund. Make sure you know the full bank account number
and routing and tracking information.
Your tax preparer may request additional documentation and
information from you, so, when possible, touch base with your preparer ahead of
time and ask what you should bring to your appointment. This should make things
go a lot more smoothly and easily all around.
