I’m sure I am not the only one who tends to put off unpleasant tasks until the last minute. I’m definitely a procrastinator when it comes to certain things – including taxes. Most people I know who anticipate refunds file as soon as they can. We’ve never had to pay in but I still just dread taxes and tend to put things off. With the deadline just a few days away now, I’m finally starting to get prepared to file.
For people who are self employed or who file long form, keeping important documents well organized is a big part of being able to file taxes easily and successfully. Master Lock offers a variety of organizers that are great options for keeping your documents organized, such as the 7148D Storage Box (pictured) that is 6″ by 13.5″ by 10.5″ and is made of steel. Priced at $21.09 it’s more affordable than many other organizers on the market.
The IRS says that 80% of people are filing taxes online now. Master Lock came up with 5 tips for best utilizing technology for taxes – from organizing to filing.
1. Request electronic copies of your tax forms. Many employers offer employees the option to receive their W-2 forms electronically, instead of by mail. By eliminating the risk of postal delays or missed deliveries, this ensures that your W-2 will be delivered securely as soon as it is available. Plus, faster W-2s can mean faster tax returns.
2. Securely store documents online. Avoid the mess of a mound of paperwork by storing – and organizing – all of your
tax-related documents online. By utilizing a free, secure service such as the Master Lock Vault (www.masterlockvault.com) you’ll have easy access to all of your files wherever you are and help ensure that none of your paper documents will ever be lost, misplaced, stolen or damaged. Not only can you upload PDF forms, but you can upload photos from your phone of important receipts and expenses for your records. All data is instantly synchronized between the website and the App. Bonus: securely store log-in information for your bank accounts and tax filing site in the Vault so you’ll never have to worry about forgetting your username or password.
3. Think taxes year-round. Don’t wait until you’re ready to file your taxes to start collecting and organizing the
supporting documents you’ll need to complete your return. Avoid the scramble by capturing and uploading a digital image
of your receipt each time you pay the babysitter or have a tax deductible transaction, fill a prescription at the pharmacy, or
make a charitable contribution such as dropping off a clothing donation to your local thrift store.
4. Opt for direct deposit. If you’ve done everything else online, why request a hard-copy check when it comes time to
claim your refund? When combined with electronic filing, direct deposit is the fastest way to get your refund. If you’re on
the other side of the spectrum and find that you owe taxes, opt to pay online and you can avoid the long tax-season lines at
the post office.
5. Call for help. Sometimes, outside advice is necessary, and you can now get the help you need without leaving home. Based on the complexity of your question, there are a variety of resources to turn to. For example, the IRS offers a tollfree hotline for tax questions during weekdays. Several tax-prep software providers also offer guidance via online forums or on their social media feeds.
Master Lock also has a sweepstakes going on right now, that ends April 16th. The prize is $1000 to help supplement your tax refund or to help ease the burden of the taxes that you owe. To enter, visit the Master Lock Tax Relief website and sign up for an account. You’ll get an email to activate your account. Once you do that, you’ll get an email with the sweepstakes entry form. Each person can get a maximum of one entry and 5 people will be chosen at random at the end of the sweepstakes.
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Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.
This post currently has 5 responses.
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I’m thankful I’m done with mine for this year. However, I really need to think taxes all year round so its not so hard next year!
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We don’t jump to get our taxes done. Sometimes we break even, sometimes we pay a little. As long as it’s done before the 15th I’m happy 🙂
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I actually just found out today (before I read your post) that you could get your W2 online electronically. I really like that idea. I do as much as I can online anymore.. paperless is the way to go. I have WAY too many papers now as it is. I’m with Liz though.. I have my tax refund done at H&R Block every year and I have them put my refund onto one of their bank debit cards rather than my own personal bank account.
I actually don’t like the refund put into my bank account because I don’t necessarily want the government hooked up to it (or anyone else, for that matter.)