A Few Simple Tips to Help Make Your Tax Preparation Smooth and Stress‑Free
Tax season doesn’t have to be overwhelming. A little preparation on the front end can make a big difference in how smoothly — and efficiently — your tax return is completed.
Think of tax preparation as a partnership. When information is organized and complete, we can focus our time on accuracy and identifying opportunities, rather than sorting paperwork. The result? A better experience for everyone.
Here are some simple do’s and don’ts to help your tax return move along as smoothly as possible.
Start With the Organizer — It’s Your Best Friend
The tax organizer and questionnaire are designed to guide you through everything we need to prepare your return accurately.
Do:
- Take the time to complete the organizer fully.
- Answer all questions — even if you think nothing has changed.
- Use the organizer to summarize your information whenever possible.
Don’t:
- Skip questions or assume “same as last year.”
- Enter the same information in multiple places.
- Re‑enter details that already appear on source documents like W‑2s or 1099s.
Why this matters:
The questionnaire is often the only way we know about changes in your life — a move, a new job, a side business, a dependent, or major purchases. Completing it carefully helps us make sure nothing is missed.
Sending Documents: A Few Simple Guidelines
Do:
- Upload PDF files whenever possible.
- Provide the original PDFs from your financial institution (full reports, not partial scans).
- Group related documents together when uploading them to the portal.
Don’t:
- Send photos or JPEG files if a PDF is available.
- Upload documents one at a time when they belong together.
A little organization on the front end saves time — and helps us get started faster.
Receipts: What We Need (and What We Don’t)
We know receipts can pile up quickly. Here’s how to handle them.
Medical Expenses
Do:
Add up your medical expenses and provide the total in the organizer or on a simple one‑page summary.
Don’t:
Upload every individual medical receipt.
Important to know:
You are responsible for keeping receipts to support your tax return, but we typically don’t need to review every receipt unless we ask for them.
Business Owners & Farmers (Schedule C / F)
If you own a business or farm, clear summaries make a big difference.
Do:
- Summarize income and expenses using:
- An Excel worksheet, or
- Reports from your accounting software (such as QuickBooks).
- Make sure all activity for the year is recorded.
- Reconcile your accounts before sending information.
Don’t:
- Send a box or stack of unsorted receipts.
- Provide partial summaries in multiple places.
- Enter amounts both in the organizer and in separate records.
Providing one clear, complete set of totals helps avoid duplication and ensures nothing is missed.
Be Sure to Include All Tax Documents
Please send all tax forms you receive, even if no tax was withheld.
This may include:
- W‑2s
- 1099‑INT, 1099‑DIV, 1099‑B
- 1099‑MISC, 1099‑NEC, 1099‑K
- Investment statements (full reports)
Don’t assume these forms are sent directly to us — most are not.
Using the Client Portal Effectively
The portal is a secure and efficient way to share information.
Do:
- Upload related documents together.
- Let us know when you’ve submitted most of your information.
- Tell us what documents you’re still waiting on.
Don’t:
- Upload documents without context.
- Assume we know when you’re “done” uploading.
A quick note goes a long way in helping us stay on track.
Refunds: One More Helpful Tip
If you expect a refund, please provide your banking information for direct deposit.
The IRS is moving away from issuing paper checks, and direct deposit is the fastest way to receive your refund.
A Quick Word About Time & Efficiency
When information is well‑organized and summarized, we can spend our time doing what matters most — preparing your return accurately and efficiently.
Sorting through unnecessary or duplicated information takes additional time, which may increase preparation costs. Using the organizer and following these tips helps keep the process smooth and cost‑effective.
We’re Here to Help
If you’re ever unsure how to provide something, just ask. We’re happy to help guide you through the process.
A little preparation goes a long way — and we appreciate the opportunity to work with you this tax season.
