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Newsletter Archives
June 2008
Road Trip Organizing
May 2008
Collections Instead of Clutter
April 2008
Getting Ready for Tax Time
March 2008
Where to Begin
February 2008
When You Want to Help
January 2008
Top Ten Causes of Disorganization
December 2007
Organize for Air Travel
November 2007
Organize for Small Spaces
October 2007
When Life Happens, Reorganize
September 2007
Bathroom Organizing
August 2007
Paper Organizing
July 2007
Uncluttered Kids' Rooms
June 2007
Top Ten Organizing Tools
May 2007
Grapple The Garage
April 2007
Managing Your Time
March 2007
Spring Organizing
February 2007
Help for Caregivers of Aging Parents
January 2007
National Get Organized Month
December 2006
Year End Organizing
November 2006
Give Thanks for Being Organized
October 2006
Holiday Kitchen Organization
September 2006
In Case of a Weather Emergency - Organize!
August 2006
Back to School Organizing
July 2006
Declare your Independence from Summer Clutter
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ORGANIZING TIPS OF THE MONTH: APRIL 2008
Getting Ready for Tax Time
Taxes are never fun, but the preparation is easier if you have your papers organized. I am happy to help you conquer your paper woes.
- Have a dedicated place to put tax support documents such as W-2 forms, charitable receipts, end of year financial statements, childcare receipts. Choose a convenient container you will use—folder, accordion file, plastic bin. It does not need to be pretty as long as it keeps your papers in one spot. Label with the tax year. Do not mix with papers from prior years.
- By January 1, create a tax file/container for the new year. Papers for the new year will start accumulating before you complete last year’s taxes.
- Go a step further. Group your tax related papers within the container. You can use clips, plastic zip bags, envelopes, or sub-files to separate items such as deductible medical expenses from charitable donations.
- Label your receipts before you put them in your tax file. One Wal-Mart receipt looks like any other, so label a charitable gift as such. For example, if you buy pet food to donate to the local rescue shelter, label the receipt with the organization name at the top and circle the items you purchased. Make a note on the receipt of the total spent.
- It is better to have too many categories of deductions than not enough. Keep all support documents together in their own category, then let your tax preparer pull those that are not allowed.
- Use a highlighter to help keep track of tax related items on your credit card and bank statements.
- Know how long you need to keep your paperwork. Ask your accountant or go to the IRS website for guidance. www.bankrate.com also has a guide to keeping paperwork.
- Get rid of paper clutter. If you do not need the information for legal, tax, or reference purposes then recycle, toss, or shred it. Always shred papers that contain personal or account information to keep it out of the hands of identity thieves.
- If you do not prepare your own taxes, make an appointment well before April 15 with your tax preparer. They will be less harried. There will be time to secure any missing documentation, although your tax document container will greatly reduce this problem. You will have time to adjust your budget to pay taxes owed or you will receive your refund sooner.
- Move old tax files to an archive storage area in your home. Clearly label the tax year for each file. Do not clutter the prime real estate in your current/reference files with stacks of tax info you will rarely, if ever, need.
©All Sorted Out, 2008 All Rights Reserved
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