Keep a folder in a place it won't get lost or misplaced. Every time you receive something you will need for your taxes put it in our folder. (EX. property taxes, donation receipts, etc.) then it will be handy, and in one place next year when you go do your taxes.
By Gail from Rochester, NY
This page contains the following solutions.
Every January I set up a new manila folder and mark it with the year. Then every time I have a receipt or statement I need to save, I just put it in the folder. Come tax season all the paperwork is in one place.
I use a monthly calendar to organize my financial life. I don't use a fancy one, just one that I receive as a promotional free item. I staple all check stubs and I write the amount of my receipts on the day that I had the expense.
When I get my first tax document in the mail (1099, W-2, etc.), I designate a drawer near my computer as my "tax documents drawer" and let everyone who handles the mail know.
I organize my tax papers in a binder using clear page protector covers and with labelled dividers to keep the categories separate and organized. Each time something for tax comes in it is placed in the binder in the correct division.
With the tax season already behind us (almost!), here are a few suggestions I have to make next year's preparations a bit easier.
Start out this month preparing for next year's tax time! Label 12 business-size envelopes (one for each month), and put all your receipts in the respective envelopes.
I use a portion of my home for business and I can deduct a portion of my utilities, home improvements, and purchases pertaining to the business from my taxes.
A very helpful publication can be found at the Internal Revenue Service web site. www.irs.gov, It is Publication 552 and it is all about record keeping.
Tax records were always a problem for me. I now use an accordion file folder with 12 slots. I use one for each month. I keep it next to my computer since I do most of my bills on line.
Don't wait until January to gather your receipts and forms to file your taxes; do it throughout the year and save yourself time and the grief. Using a two pocket folder, with a medium tipped marker, write the word "Taxes" and whatever year on the folder.
An easy way to keep tax information together is to use one of the free calendars that stores give away. I white out Sunday on the Sunday column and combine Saturday/Sunday under one column at the end. This leaves a blank column at the first of the week for notes.
This is the time to get organized for your 2008 taxes. Start the year off right! Then at this time next year, you will have all you need.
Tax time is on us so this is for the next year, but can be very useful all year. Get separate envelopes for every month to put ALL your paid bills and receipts in and mark with month and year.
Here are some tips from the IRS about keeping good records. You can avoid headaches at tax time by keeping track of your receipts and other records throughout the year.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Staying organized for tax time. Post your ideas.
I'm a bookkeeper, and keep my records very organized, but many people don't. My suggestion is to make use of the program that probably came with the software on your computer such as the Microsoft Money program.
This program is very easy to use, even for a beginner, and allows you to make entries just like you would in a checkbook register, and allocate them to different categories. You can set up different accounts like Cash, checking account, credit cards, etc. Every time you make a deposit into your checking account or write a check or use your debit card, you make an entry into the checking account register on your computer. IMPORTANT: For this to work, you must make all the same entries that you do in your manual checkbook register!
At the end of the year, you generate a report using this same software, and it will show income and expenses for the entire year under the appropriate categories, which makes tax preparation SO much easier. (You can also balance your checkbook each month on the computer VERY easily!) You can see at a glance how much you've earned and spent by category, and then all you need to do, with minimal effort, is transfer those amounts to your income tax form, or print out the report to give to your tax preparer. It really makes life much easier and tax time much less stressful!
Laura - Oceanside, CA
It is the dreaded tax season again, but my taxes will much easier to take care of. In my day planner, I have a plastic envelope, (pencil holder) that holds all receipts that should go on taxes. At home, I have attached, a bill binder (with months on tabs) to put all medical bills, medical visit receipts, all dental bills, etc. in the appropriate month. Taxes are now a breeze! You can forget that shoe box of information to dig through!
By Darlin Daisy
