Preparing for your 2017 tax return prep

Preparing for your 2017 Tax Return Prep

Don’t live without these 7 #ReturnTips when planning to prepare your 2017 taxes. #PersonalFinance. #PensacolaTaxFirms #McVayBusinessServicesPensacola

If your budgeting to get your 2017 taxes prepared you would be better off going to a local Accounting firm that does bookkeeping, taxes and payroll. Firms like McVay Business Services make most their money during the year doing bookkeeping and payroll. These local smaller firms usually have better prices over the so called large national tax firms. You will also get more experienced tax preparers as most large national tax firms hire part-time seasonal tax preparers with minimal experience. Mike McVay is a degreed accountant with over 20+ years expenserce preparing personal, business and corporate & LLC tax returns.

Tax Preparation Checklist
Before you begin to prepare your income tax return, go through the following checklist. Highlight the areas that apply to you, and make sure you have that information available. Better yet, attach the list to a folder of your tax documents, and check items off as you add them to the folder.
Personal information
Social Security numbers and dates of birth for you, your spouse, your dependents Information about your income
W-2 forms for you and your spouse 1099-MISC forms for you and your spouse (for any independent contractor work)
1099-G forms for unemployment income, or state or local tax refunds SSA-1099 for Social Security benefits received 1099-R, Form 8606 for payments/distributions from IRAs or retirement plans 1099-INT, -DIV, -B, or K-1s for investment or interest income Most people will need: 1099-S forms for income from sale of a property
Miscellaneous income: jury duty, gambling winnings, Medical Savings Account, scholarships, etc. Copies of last year’s tax return for you and your spouse (helpful, but not required) Bank account number and routing number, if depositing your refund directly into your account This information tells the IRS exactly who’s filing, who is covered in your tax return, and where to deposit your tax refund.
Alimony received Business or farming income - profit/loss statement, capital equipment information Rental property income and expenses: profit/loss statement, suspended loss information Prior year installment sale information 
Forms 6252, principal and interest collected during the year, SSN and address for payer.
1099-C forms for cancellation of debt Adjustments to your income
Form 1098-E for student loan interest paid (or loan statements for student loans) Form 1098-T for tuition paid (or receipts/canceled checks for tuition paid for post-high school) For teachers: Canceled checks or receipts for expenses paid for classroom supplies, etc

This following items can help reduce the amount of your income that is taxed, which can increase your tax refund, or lower the amount you owe. Records of IRA contributions made during the year Receipts for any qualifying energy-efficient home improvements (solar, windows, etc.) Records of Medical Savings Account (MSA) contributions Self-employed health insurance payment records Records of moving expenses Alimony paid Keogh, SEP, SIMPLE, and other self-employed pension plans Deductions and credits The government offers a number of deductions and credits to help lower the tax burden on individuals, which means more money in your pocket. You’ll need the following documentation to make sure you get all the deductions and credits you deserve: If you itemize your deductions:

Child care costs: provider’s name, address, tax ID, and amount paid Education costs:
Form 1098-T, education expenses Adoption costs: SSN of child; records of legal, medical and transportation costs
Forms 1098: Mortgage interest, private mortgage insurance (PMI), and points you paid Investment interest expenses Charitable donations: cash amounts, official charity receipts, canceled checks; value of donated property; miles driven and out-of-pocket expenses Medical and dental expense records Casualty and theft losses: amount of damage, insurance reimbursements.
Deductions and credits (continued) Records/amounts of other miscellaneous tax deductions: union dues; unreimbursed employee expenses (uniforms, supplies, seminars, continuing education, publications, travel, etc.) Records of home business expenses, home size/office size, home expenses Rental property income/expenses: profit/loss statement, rental property suspended loss information
Taxes you’ve paid State and local income taxes paid Real estate taxes paid Personal property taxes Vehicle license fees based on value of vehicle Other information Estimated tax payments made during the year (self-employed) Prior-year refund applied to current year and/or any amount paid with an extension to file Foreign bank account information: location, name of bank, account number, peak value of account during the year The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal or other business and professional advice.

Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation for advice on your taxes, your investments, the law or any other business and professional matters that affect you and/or your business. 

McVay Business Services - 5336 N Blue Angel Pkwy Pensacola, FL 32526
850-725-5696
Mike@MikeMcVay.com 
www.PensacolaFLTax.com