Everything you need to file your income tax return.

About half of us file our own returns and half get professional help. Of the options remote professional tax service is fast, efficient, safe and economical. No matter what method, now is the time to check to e sure you have the information necessary to file.

Today is February 4 and you should have everything needed to file your 2017 income tax return. The mailing deadline for W2 employer wage tax statements, Form 1099 contractor earnings and other income, Form 1098 mortgage interest statements and other similar forms necessary for preparation of last year’s tax return was January 31, 2018. With a few days mail time, you should have them by now. If not, make a note to yourself to followup with the expected sender within a week.

Next, make sure that you have a copy of last year’s tax return. If not, request a copy of a tax transcript as soon as possible. I can do that but it makes sense to complete this task as soon as possible.

If you have these items then you are  probably ready to file. I suggest the easiest and most cost efficient is remote professional service like I offer. This method is fast, safe, secure , efficient and less expensive than the “walk in” tax service providers. The best part is that if you have any questions, I am available through a direct answer phone call or text message.

In the end, about half of us use a paid professional and about half use a program like Turbotax. Of that second group, a growing number of self-prepared tax filers hire a professional later to fix problems created during the filing process. I’m biased, of course, but I see the value of tax and financial planning advice given in the course of a professional tax engagement to be worth many times more than the cost of professional help. Almost everyone misses some important details if they work  alone. That representation service for tax audits is more expensive and more risky than having a professional prepare the initial tax return. For that reason – for simplicity, to save money and avoid headaches – it makes sense to have a professional prepare the return in the first place.