Erica - HER LIFE Magazine

load commercial tax preparation software like TurboTax. Make surethat the product you choose is tested and approved by the IRS andprovides audit support. Several of the top tax preparation brands,including H&R Block At Home, Complete Tax, TaxACT as wellas TurboTax, offer free online versions of their software that allowtaxpayers with very straightforward tax situations to complete theirfederal tax returns and e-file for free.An additional tip for preparing your own taxes is to keep yourfinancial information organized throughout the year. This will saveyou time when you sit down to file your taxes. I use a large manilaenvelope each year to store documents that I’ll need for taxes (nothingcan fall out of an envelope the way it can with a file folder). Ialso create and update spreadsheets for charitable donations andother deductible expenses and store those receipts in a separatesmaller envelope. When I’m ready to do my taxes, I’m able to sitdown with my envelopes, spreadsheets and laptop, and completemy federal and state tax returns in just a few hours. By selecting thedirect deposit option when I e-file, I receive any refund in a matterof days.Whether you do your own taxes or have them professionallyprepared, remember that signing your tax return makes you responsiblefor all the information it contains. To decrease your chances ofbeing audited, always be sure to double-check the accuracy of yourreturn before you file it. ■HERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM 51