How to Get a Head Start on Preparing for This Tax Season

That time of the year is arriving. With the hard times for financial management looming, CPAs, bookkeepers, business owners need to get a jump start on tax filing. Firms will begin to do a head-long tussle to reach the April 15 – the tax filing deadline. This call to organize receipts, gather bank statements, expense receipts, and other important documents will make firms do a head-long scramble.

Getting a fresh insight on ‘how to’ prepare for the tax filing can help to do planning for tax season management discreetly. Also, significant improvements can be made to the existing system. So, start exploring and analyzing existing tax season system to decrease errors, be more efficient to make clients happier and loyal. Avoid the last-minute rush by taking an insight on how to simplify taxation process:

1. Maintain Central Repository of Critical Documents

Make sure that record of documents such as bank statements, expense receipts are clearly organized and accurately updated. Also, critical deductions must be laid out clearly. Irrespective of receiving the T4, statements such as student loan payments, investments and a host of other documents are also required to fill out the return. A bunch of documents will start reaching out to you in January, so assemble them in a convenient location. While filling out a return, it will avoid the frustration and increase the chances of earning all of the credits you deserve.

2. Analyze the Past Returns to Prepare for Tax-Season Early

Failing to make an early start on taxes can kick-off you during the tax-season. Filling out tax returns brings up a plethora of questions. Examining properly past returns can help to check out the questions that you didn’t have time for last year. Gather all of the information required for filling the sources of deductions and status.  Listing out the sources of income such as banks, employers, and mutual funds in advance can help in preparing tax report accurately in the one go.

3. Deploy Government Resources for Guidance

Many of the websites offer assistance to small businesses and provide information on a list of deadlines that can avoid scrambling at last moment. Reviewing the IRS website www.irs.gov can be helpful for getting business and tax information. Additionally, the status of the amended return and entire information related to business expenses required for the compilation of report can be checked.

4. Choose E-filing for Faster Processing

For the faster generation of refunds and acknowledgment go for e-filing of tax returns. Electronic filing is more accurate and secure rather than paper-based. E-filing can be done anywhere and anytime without time or place constraint. Additionally, flexibility to prepare e-files as per convenience makes the process hassle-free. Confidentiality of the data can be maintained and the chance of data misuse diminishes.

5. Do Not Let Your Tax Return be Haunted by Ghost Assets

Company’s bottom line is significantly impacted by ghost assets defined as “assets which are physically missing or unusable.” With sophisticated and refined asset management system, companies can easily prepare inventory for year-end taxes and any potential audits. Inventory and asset management software can help in understanding the complications associated with tax filing and generate a simplified tax return report.

Conclusion

Tax season preparation is a year-long process that leaves no space for organizational errors. It’s never too early to start preparing for the tax season. Giving a head start to prepare for the taxes avoids scrambling at the last moment and ensures correct filing and claim proper deductions. So, start thinking now about tax season preparation to avoid late payment penalties and process the tax refund faster.