Start Getting Ready Now to Itemize Your Deductions for Next Year

Don’t wait until the last minute to itemize your deductions!

Starting to itemize now will greatly help you avoid stress when it gets to be tax season again. Here are some things to keep in mind to be prepared.

Talk with a tax professional about your situation as soon as possible. You’ll want to assess whether itemizing is right for you or not. Your income might be below the threshold of making it worth your while to itemize. And if it is below the threshold, we could help you by showing you ways to match the benefits you’d see from itemizing. For example, it may mean doubling up on a couple of mortgage payments or paying property taxes early that could change your taxable income. We’ll help you decide what’s best for you.

If you are planning to itemize, you’ve got to organize. Have a dedicated place in your house that is solely for tax records such as receipts or your log for business mileage. If you have a smartphone, it’s a best practice to take a photo of each receipt and record so you have a digital backup as well as a place to maintain receipts that you were sent via email. There are even apps like Genius Scan that turn your iPhone photos of receipts into PDFs.

Start now if you haven’t already. Your future self will thank you!