Gather all income documents
Collect deductible expense records
Review last year’s tax return
Organize receipts and statements
Check for tax law changes
Maximize retirement contributions
Confirm personal information is correct
Decide whether to itemize or take the standard deduction
Estimate any tax payments due
Verify eligibility for credits and deductions
Reconcile bank and investment accounts
Keep records of charitable donations
Prepare business income and expense summaries
File missing forms or corrected forms
Choose tax software or a tax professional
Set aside funds for any balance due
File your return before the deadline