Few people truly enjoy filing taxes, and most people just want to get it over as quickly as possible. Even if you are expecting a refund, you would probably rather be doing anything else.
Now that your taxes are nearing completion, you are itching to press the “E-file My Return” button and get the whole thing over with for another year. That is a reasonable reaction to dealing with the IRS, but before you finalize your return you might want to ask yourself these important questions.
#1. Have You Made All Allowable Retirement Plan Contributions?
The only thing worse than paying your taxes is paying more taxes than you should. Before you hit send and close the door on another year, ask yourself if you have made all the retirement plan contributions you can.
If you have an IRA, you may be able to contribute additional money up until the tax filing deadline. That additional contribution could even lower your tax bill, boosting the size of your refund or reducing the size of the check you need to write.
#2. Are You Eligible for a Health Savings Account?
Contributing to an IRA or other retirement plan account can lower your taxes, but it is not the only vehicle available. If you have a high deductible health plan (HDHP) for your health insurance, you may be eligible for a health savings account (HSA), and making a contribution could lower your tax bill substantially.
If you are eligible for a health savings account, making your contribution now could lower your tax bill now while giving you funds to spend on things like copayments, deductibles, and the like. Unlike a flexible spending account, the money in the HSA does not expire, so you can roll it over from one year to the next.
#3. Is Your Banking Information Correct?
If you are due a refund, you do not want any delays in the processing of your return and the issuing of your money. And if you have a payment due to the government, you do not want to wait for the IRS to come calling. Whether the money is going into or out of your account, you want to ensure everything is correct.
You might be surprised at the number of refunds that get misdirected due to incorrect banking information. You do not want this simple mistake to sideline your refund. Before you hit send, take another look at your banking information — this time with your checkbook firmly in hand. It never hurts to double-check the numbers — after all, it is your money on the line.
#4. Did You Work in More Than One State?
With the rise of the gig economy and the desire for multiple streams of income, a growing number of people are picking up work in more than one state. While conducting interstate commerce can be lucrative, it can also be taxing, and your return could be more complicated than usual.
If you worked in more than one state in the past year, you will want to take a second, and possibly a third, look at your taxes, both federal and state. The state return, in particular, could be dicey, and you may want to have a professional review your work before you send it in.
#5. Do You Have Any Unreported Income?
Not reporting all your income is one of the surest ways to get audited, and you do not want that to happen. Before you e-file your tax return, make sure all your income has been reported.
If all you have is a traditional job, you should not have to worry much — your employer is responsible for withholding taxes and issuing you a W2 form before tax filing season begins. The problem arises when you take on various side hustles — not all of the people and organizations you work for will issue you forms showing how much you earned.
It’s important to carefully record all your income, including money you make from those side hustles, freelancing, and the like. Be sure to record all your expenses as well — you can write those things off against the money you made when you file your return.
When filing your taxes, you want to get it over with — but not so fast. Before you pull the curtain closed on your IRS duties, you will want to make sure everything is in order. If you fail to do so, you could live to regret it.
Asking yourself the five questions above will help you rest a little easier when you file your taxes. Once you have answered those questions and double-checked your work, you can rest easy while you wait for your tax refund to arrive.
