ATLANTA (FOX 5 Atlanta) - In just 12 days you need to file your taxes. Yep, April 15th is closing in. So, take a look at some last-minute tax filing tips.
Oh, before I forget -- April 15th is a Monday. That'll be quite a Monday, right? Or if you can look at this half-glass full, you will have a whole weekend to get everything prepped and ready to go. Either way, it's time to hustle. In full disclosure, I usually am done by now and I haven't even started yet. Ugh.
So these tips are for me as much as they are for you.
Let's look at the 4 DEADLINES that loom for April 15. It's the deadline for individual tax returns; the deadline for sole proprietor filing Schedule C on your personal tax returns and the deadline to file an extension for your individual return. But here's a good one - if you were due a refund in 2015 but didn't file - this year is your last to collect that one. Miss it and Uncle Sam keeps it. So that's an incentive to file.
OK, let's quit procrastinating and get started. Collect your paperwork. Get it all in one place. File electronically,
Here's wonderful list proved by Turbo Tax to get your started.
Income from jobs: forms W-2 for you and your spouse
Investment income—various forms 1099 (-INT, -DIV, -B, etc.), K-1s, stock option information
Income from state and local income tax refunds and/or unemployment: forms 1099-G
Taxable alimony received
Business or farming income—profit/loss statement, capital equipment information
If you use your home for business—home size, office size, home expenses, office expenses.
IRA/pension distributions—forms 1099-R, 8606
Rental property income/expense—profit/Loss statement, rental property suspended loss information
Social Security benefits—forms SSA-1099
Income from sales of property—original cost and cost of improvements, escrow closing statement, cancelled debt information (form 1099-C)
Prior year installment sale information—forms 6252, principal and Interest collected during the year, SSN and address of payer
Other miscellaneous income—jury duty, gambling winnings, Medical Savings Account (MSA), scholarships, etc.