How To Prepare Your Taxes
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How To Prepare Your Taxes
Don't let tax season scare you. Unless you're a mega-mogul, tax preparation is relatively simple. Here's a simple guide to preparing your tax return.
Step 1: Perfect Form
Download form 1040 from www.irs.gov
There are three versions of the tax form.
1040EZ
If you're young, make under $100,000, don't own a home and don't have kids, use the "EZ" version of the form.
1040A
If you have dependents, paid college tuition, student loans or contributed to an retirement account, use 1040"A" -- the short form. Anything more complicated than that, and you'll need the regular 1040 form which allows you to itemize all deductions including property taxes and mortgage interest.
1040 (Long Form)
You need to itemize deductions, including mortgage interest, if your income is over $100,000, or you sold stocks, bonds or property.
Step 2: Write Off The Top
Unless you're using the EZ form, exemptions are the first thing to figure out. You get one exemption for yourself… another for your spouse. If you have dependents, you get an exemption for each one of them. On 2007 returns, each exemption reduces taxable income by $3,400. Dependents can include children, disabled persons and/or elderly parents.
Step 3: Make It Count
Now it's time to calculate how much money you made this past year. Wages are simple. They're calculated for you on the W-2 form your employer is required to send you by the end of January. The W-2 shows your pay and any taxes already taken out by the government. You also have to report capital gains, alimony, state income tax refunds from last year and any cash or prizes you won. If you're self-employed or an independent contractor, check the mail for the 1099 forms from anyone who paid you. All those earnings go in the income section of the 1040.
Step 4: Knock It Off
Here's the part where you can reduce your tax bill by deducting your expenses, interest, and taxes you've previously paid. It all ends up in the "Adjusted Gross Income" section of forms 1040 and 1040A. Just remember… major deductions often require you to attach additional forms.
Step 5: Sleep On It
The most common mistakes on tax forms are simple things like math errors, extra zeros or boxes that aren't checked. Once you complete the forms, set it all aside. Wait a day, then check it over before filing.
Step 6: Paper Or Plastic?
You can mail your return the old-fashioned way, or you can e-file. If you provide the IRS with your bank account information, they'll deposit your refund within a couple of weeks. If you owe, don't worry. The IRS takes credit cards.
Tips & Comments
How to get someone to fill out my tax return?
What happens if you are late in paying your taxes in the US? Question: I am unable to pay my delinquent taxes. Will the IRS accept an Offer in Compromise? Answer: You may qualify for an Offer in Compromise if you are unable to pay your taxes in full or if you are facing severe or unusual economic hardship. Refer to Tax Topic 204, Offers in Compromise, for additional information. Additional Information: Form 656 (PDF) Offer in Compromise FAQs for New Offer in Compromise Rules Category: IRS Procedures Subcategory: Collection Procedural Questions
Question: Should I notify the IRS of my change of address? Answer: Yes, if you move, you need to notify the IRS of your new address. We can change our records so that any tax refunds due to you or any other IRS communications will reach you in a timely manner. Submit Form 8822 to request an address change. Additional Information: Form 8822 (PDF), Change of Address Tax Topic 157, Change of Address - How to Notify IRS Category: IRS Procedures Subcategory: Address Changes
The benefits of completing and filing your tax return online Why file online? If you use online filing your tax will be worked out for you automatically so you'll know what you owe or are due back right away. You'll also get immediate confirmation that we've received your return. And from the tax year 2007-08 onwards the deadlines for filing online are more generous than if you send in a paper return. New - shorter deadlines if you send in a paper return For returns for the tax years 2007-08 onwards the new deadlines are: 31 October after the end of the tax year for filing paper returns 31 January after the end of the tax year for online filing Top Forms you'll need to complete The core pages of the full tax return The main SA Tax Return (Forms SA100 and SA101) consists of the core pages (which everyone completes) confirming your name, address and contact details and also details of your UK savings, investments and pensions (if any). You can also use it to claim any reliefs and allowances that you're entitled to - for example pension contributions. We then add to this, as appropriate, supplementary pages that cover specific circumstances and types of income (for example, income from employment, income from land and property or income from self employment). Go to Self Assessment forms, guidance and supplementary pages Self-employment pages f you've registered as self-employed, we'll automatically send you the self-employment pages - SA103S if your turnover was below £64,000, or SA103F if the turnover was £64,000 or more - as well as the core pages. You must fill these in to give us details of your business income and expenses. These figures tell us what your taxable profit is. If your business is a partnership, you'll have to fill in a partnership Tax Return SA800 and the Partnership supplementary page - SA104S or SA104F - instead of the SA103, showing your share of the partnership profits. Go to Self Assessment forms, guidance and supplementary pages Partnership tax returns - find out more Other forms you may need to complete Depending on your circumstances, you may have to complete additional pages. For example, if you're an employee or a company director as well as being self-employed you'll have to fill in the employment pages - SA102. We may not automatically send you the additional pages that you'll have to fill in. You can find out what additional pages you'll need by checking the list on page two of the core pages of your tax return. You can download any additional pages and the guidance notes that go with them from our website. Or you can order them from the Self Assessment Orderline on Tel 0845 900 0404. It's open from 8.00 am to 10.00 pm seven days a week, including bank holidays. Go to Self Assessment forms, guidance and supplementary pages Top How to fill in the forms Tax returns are not difficult to fill in, and it's quicker and easier if you gather together and sort out all the relevant documentation before you start. Step one - decide how you're going to file your return Decide if you want to fill in a paper return or complete and file your return online. Filing online has many advantages, including longer deadlines, 24-hour access and instant tax calculations. Self Assessment Online - find out more about the benefits and how to register Step two - get the right pages Make sure you've got the right pages - or select the right pages if filing online. If you have more than one self-employment you'll need to fill in the supplementary pages - SA103S or SA103F - for each of them. Depending on your circumstances, you may need some additional pages. There's a useful checklist on page two of the core Tax Return - SA100. Step three - collect the information you'll need Before you can fill in your tax return you'll have to collect all the information you need from your records. For example: records of your business income and expenses details of any purchases or sales of assets details of any other income you get - for example from an employment information about any income from savings and investments Record keeping for the self-employed - learn more Step four - complete your return Complete all the pages that you have to for your return. There are guidance notes to help you, including notes on the self-employment pages. Or you can ring the Self Assessment Helpline on Tel 0845 900 0444. It's open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm every day, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Go to all Self Assessment forms, notes and help sheets Step five - calculate your tax Finally, calculate how much tax you owe. If you file your return online this'll be done for you automatically. If the total of your business profits and any other taxable income is more than your tax free allowances, you'll pay tax on the difference. The tax due will be included on your Self Assessment Statement. Tax allowances and reliefs for the self-employed - find out more Tax rates and allowances - read the current rates Understanding your Self Assessment Statement Top What happens if you don't have exact figures? If you don't have exact figures you can use: an estimate - a figure you want us to accept as your final figure a provisional figure - one you want to use until you can confirm the actual amount (you must tell us when you expect to have final figures) Use the 'Additional Information' section to say how you've arrived at these figures and why you can't use actual figures. If you make adjustments at a later date and you've underpaid tax you may have to pay interest and penalties. Top Avoiding common mistakes So that we can process your tax return quickly it's advisable to: make sure you sign and date the return (if you file a paper return) check that you've completed and included any supplementary pages that are needed don't include notes on the return such as 'per accounts' or 'information to follow' Filing online can help you to avoid making mistakes. Follow the link below to find out how to register to file your tax return online. Self Assessment Online - find out more about the benefits and how to register Top If you've got a problem completing your tax return If you need help you can ring the Self Assessment Helpline on Tel 0845 900 0444. It's open from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm every day, except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
How to fill in a UK tax return. you are going to fill in a paper Tax Return, we hope you will find this new TaxReturn easier to fill in. This guide will help you – the opening paragraphs areimportant so please read them before you start your Return. We must receive paperTax Returns by 31 October 2008.• But why not file online? Online filing is secure, convenient and there is on-screen help if you need it. You have three extra months to file online – online Returns are due by 31 January 2009.• To file online, all you have to do is go to www.hmrc.gov.uk and from the Do it online menu select Self Assessment If you are registered as self-employed you'll be sent a Self Assessment tax return (if you file on paper), or a Notice to File (if you file online) soon after the end of the tax year - 5 April. The paper return may come in several sections, and you must check that you've got all the pages you need. The online version is tailored (by you) to meet your business and personal circumstances, so will automatically show you the relevant boxes to fill in. From April 2008, the deadlines for submitting the SA return are changing. The paper return must reach us by 31 October 2008. The online return must be filed with us by 31 January 2009. The same deadlines will apply in future years.
This is how to fill in a US tax return.