4 Strategies for an Organized Tax Season

Stay organized and plan ahead to save money and reduce tax-time stress.

Good tax habits can turn a stressful season into a smooth one. Smallroombigdream/Shutterstock

Every year, tax day sneaks up in a hurry. Whether you use tax preparation software or outsource to a certified public accountant, here are some key strategies to ensure a smooth and worry-free tax season.

Strategy 1: Use a Tax Checklist or Organizer

Using a tax checklist or organizer can help you avoid that paper chase and assemble all the key documents in advance; completing your return is then a matter of filling in data.  Tax checklists abound online.

If you use an accountant, it’s a good bet they send you a tax organizer, either paper or digital; such forms often come prepopulated with your tax data from the previous year. It’s a handy way to track trends in your income, interest earned on your investments, and charitable giving.

Strategy 2: Determine if You’ll Be Itemizing or Taking the Standard Deduction

If you employ a tax advisor, they may have provided some guidance on whether to itemize based on your 2024 return. If you do your own taxes, you can get a pretty clear view of whether to use the standard deduction by taking stock of the major deductible items.