Filing your taxes is your responsibility and this means that you need to gather all of the pertinent information that is going to relate to your taxes. This often means that you need to look at the other family members and how they have any bearing on your tax filing.
Many of us live a hectic lifestyle and it is easy to forget about things that take place throughout the year that actually can have an effect on the outcome of your tax filing. Usually most people find doing their tax returns a stressful job and tend to forget about the little things that can affect their tax credits. Often a single tax credit may not amount to much, but when you add them all together they really can make a difference.
It really does help if you get organized. If you are going to do your taxes yourself rather than use a professional like a Toronto accountant then you have got to set some substantial time aside to do your taxes properly.
Getting organized:
You have to make the decision as to whether you are going to complete your taxes in paper form, or file online. Although the CRA is really encouraging tax payers to file online you still have the option to do a paper return. Either way you need to either go and pick up your tax return forms, or obtain your online software.
Learning what’s new:
It doesn’t matter how experienced you are at doing your taxes there is always new things each year that you need to be aware of. In the tax guide usually at the beginning they list what is new. You need to be aware of these, and if using software you have to learn it as well. Hopefully you are comfortable with computers otherwise you will have extra frustrations.
Gathering your documents:
Now that you have studied what your tax requirements are the next step is to gather all of the pertinent documents. The CRA will demand that some of the documents be attached with your return, while others you will have to keep on hand in case they ask for them.
Deciding who claims what:
If you have a spouse then you will need to work hand in hand with your partner to decide who is going to claim what. This can take some real study trying to decide what would be most beneficial to you according to your individual tax situation.
The final preparation:
If math isn’t one of your strong points then be sure to have a calculator on hand. One of the easiest and common mistakes to make with your return is a math error. Then when you get back your assessment often you find that you end up owing money instead of getting a refund back.
It doesn’t end here:
Once the CRA has processed your return they will complete your assessment and send it to you. Be sure to compare the assessment with the return that you filed so you can address any discrepancies.
Tax filing is no easy task. It is not only a learning process but it requires you to remember many different details. By using a quality tax accountant it can take a lot of the burden off of you having to get your taxes done right, and ensuring that you are not missing out on potential credits, as well as making costly mistakes from not providing all the required information.
