3 Things To Do Before Meeting With An Accountant To File Your Taxes

Choosing to meet with an accountant to file your taxes is a great avenue to take. They are very knowledgeable about the entire process and can make sure that everything is filed correctly and on time. However, just because you are meeting with an accountant doesn't mean that there aren't still things that you should do to help prepare for this meeting. Here are three things to do before meeting with an accountant to file your taxes.

Update All Addresses For Your Employment Locations

At the beginning of the year all of the businesses that you have worked for during that year will send out information on how much money you made that year working for them. This is normally in the form of a W2 or other similar document. However, in order to make sure that all of these are sent to the correct location, you should check what address you have put in. This is especially important if you have moved in the last year. If all of these documents are not present, then you won't be able to file your taxes and will likely end up having to reschedule the meeting until you can get ahold of all of them.

Gather All Personal Identification

You must also have a few different forms of personal identification when it comes to filing your taxes. Your accountant will likely have a detailed list for you, or will tell you verbally what to bring. However, this will likely include your social security card, driver's license, birth certificate for your children and/or social security card, personal health insurance information, etc. Once again, without all of these personal identification items, you won't be able to file your taxes with the accountant.

Collect Receipts

If you are self-employed, or you work for some other company and don't have taxes taken out during the year, then it is important that you keep all business related receipts. This allows you to get certain write-offs and deductions in your taxes that you wouldn't otherwise be able to claim. Also, make sure that you keep any receipts that you have received for charitable donations because these are write-offs as well. If you have any questions in regards to how this works, or what receipts to bring, you can call your accountant to get more detailed information.

In order to be well prepared when you meet with your accountant to file your taxes, be sure to update all addresses for your employment locations, gather your personal identification items, and collect and self-employment, charitable donation, or other business related receipts that are applicable.

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