Confidently file your taxes

Hiring a tax professional can be expensive, and not necessarily something you have to do, especially if you have a basic W2 and standard deduction type return. However, filing a confident return is critical. So, consider the following 5 things to filing a confident return.

1. File your taxes online. E-filing makes it easier to do your taxes, as the paperwork is not going to get lost or shuffled, and the forms do not let you proceed unless you fill in the proper boxes, check the right places, etc. Filing online is a great way to feel confident, as it is easy, and there are formulas used to figure everything out for you.  And, if you live in the right states, and are under the right income amount, your e-filing might be free.

2. Ask the IRS for help. You can go spend a lot of money on expensive books that tell you about the new tax laws, the best ways to file, etc. However, you can get all of this for free b calling the IRS and asking for it. The IRS will provide you with information for every form, and every box that you may need to fill out, but you have to ask for it. So, call their telephone line 800-829-4477 for recorded messages on 150 of the most frequently asked tax questions. Or, if you want to talk to an actual person to check things out, call 800-829-1040.

3. If you are worried that your taxes were not prepared well, consult a volunteer counselor. There are volunteers trained by the IRS to give free assistance if your income is under $35,000 or people over age 60. If you are not sure where to find the free help, give the IRS a call, it can really help you. The best number to find free counselors is 800-829-1040.

4. Consult a professional tax preparer. Ok, so they cost too much, but they sure can help you feel comfortable that you did not miss anything because they are trained to know the ins and outs of current tax law. Choose a professional that can help you with what you need. Maybe you can prepare it yourself, and let them check it. Or, you can hire them to do all of your books all year long. The point is, it costs a lot, but it can save a lot as well.

5. It is your responsibility to make sure that the tax return is filled out correctly, that you found everything, and do everything right. So, the best thing you can do is spend time on it. Do not rush the process, make sure you are thorough, and organized, and precise. Otherwise, you will be likely to get audited, or not get deductions you could have gotten.

A confident tax return is a happy citizen, so do it right, and enjoy the rewards of doing it right.