2013 Tax Return Deadline: April 15, 2014!

Don't forget, this year tax returns without an extension on file, are due April 15, 2014. If you file online, you have until 11:59pm on that day to file. Otherwise your return must be postmarked by April 15, 2014.

If you are sending your return by mail, I ALWAYS recommend mailing it certified return receipt (that green form at the post office). It costs a few bucks but is worth it's weight in gold if you have a problem with your return making it (or not) to IRS in time.

Some helpful tips before you meet with your tax preparer or file your return yourself:

1. Check your info! Make sure names, social security numbers, income amounts are correct and match the paperwork you have (like your social security card, your W2's, bank statements, etc).

2. Create a checklist of items you need every year for your taxes --- specific bank statements or forms, investment or other income related documents, you're W2, important tax ID numbers, receipts and anything else that was helpful. If you do it this year, the following year will make compiling what you need to complete your return a breeze!

3. Don't stress! Tax season can be stressful for everyone, myself included! By creating a list of the things you'll need every year you're already well on your way to a stress-less tax season. Helpful online softwares like Turbo tax can be great for when your return is simple and straightforward. Finding a great CPA or EA (enrolled agent) to give you advice and complete your return accurately will greatly reduce your stress levels. You won't ever wonder if you missed any important deductions or if you've done something wrong.

April 1 has arrived, and this is no joke...taxes are due in 15 days. Don't delay!

Tax Professional Granada Hills Reviews Disaster Planning

With all the weather related disasters happening around the country and the world many clients have been asking me how to protect their important documents in the extreme case of a natural disaster. I believe this is a great question not just for forces of nature, but anything that might come between you and your documents. What if your house burns down? What if someone robs your house and along with it your safe full of important documents? Or what if your 4-year old starts a connection between your documents and your shredder?

How can you protect your important documents if something happens to them?

The IRS has some helpful hints and I believe everyone should consider adopting one or all of their suggestions. Give me a call and I can help in this process!

1.     Create electronic backups of your important documents!

Truly one of the greatest things about this day and age is our technology. Scanners, email, external hard drives and online backup software can help us keep the information we need safe, create “greener” copies of things we need to reference over time and just gives us peace of mind. Obviously the most important thing to remember when creating a backup (or backups!) or important documents is to keep the sets separate from one another. Consider keeping one at your home and one at your office or at the home of a close family member.

Documents that are important to keep backup copies include: bank statements, tax returns, insurance policies, wills, etc. Many of your financial providers like banks and your lawyer (for wills, documents, etc) keep their own copies of things, often electronically. But don’t count on others to do it for you. Either check to make sure the most recent copy exists through your accounts with them, or make a copy of it for yourself anyway! You can scan documents and save them to different computers, create paper copies and store in different places or burn documents to CD’s and store in a safe place. I suggest investing in a safety deposit box and a fireproof safe for your home as an alternative place to store documents. A fireproof safe and home is convenient for documents you may want to access regularly and a safety deposit box is great for things like insurance policies, wills and power of attorney designations.

2.     Document your valuables.

In the event that your valuables are lost or stolen, you can help yourself after the fact by documenting the things of value you own. The IRS suggests having photographs and lists, room by room, of your belongings. Check out the IRS’s disaster loss workbook to learn more. (link: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p584.pdf) Again – this list including photographs should have backup copies as well.

3.     IRS Copies

In the event that you lost many of your important tax related documents remember the IRS has copies of previously filed tax returns, including any and all documents attached to each return (like your W-2, etc).  Learn more about preparing for unforeseen disasters on IRS’s website (link: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=239917,00.html).

I can help you set up a plan that suits you best to prepare yourself for a situation in which you’d lose some or all of these documents. Making sure you have copies of everything is important but it’s also an overwhelming task that I’m prepared and qualified to help you with. 

Give me a call today – 818 368 5374 or send me an email by clicking Granada Hills Tax Professional