Tax-time Advice

1. Gather all of the documents you need to prepare your taxes — receipts, cancelled checks, bank statements and anything else you need to support income and deductions you are claiming.
2. The IRS' Free File has brand-name tax software or online fillable forms, . If you made $57,000 or less, you qualify to use free tax software offered through a private-public partnership with manufacturers.　If you made more or are comfortable preparing your own tax return, there's Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic versions of IRS paper forms.
3. Many tax preparers are now required to use the IRS' e-file. If someone owes taxes, they have payment options to file immediately and pay by the tax deadline.
4. There are many options for filing tax returns. You can do your own taxes or visit a professional tax preparer. Some people might be eligible for free face-to-face help at a volunteer site. Give yourself time to check out all the options and find the one works best for you.
5. Don’t hurry. It's easy to make a mistake when rushing to get something completed. And mistakes slow down the processing of your tax return. Be sure to double check all the Social Security numbers and math calculations on your return, since these are the most common errors.