Special Edition Tax Tip 2012

By J.C. Harrison, Simplified Business & Tax

The tax deadline may have just passed but planning for next years start now. The IRS reminds taxpayers that being organized and planning ahead can save time, money and headaches in 2013. Here are six things you can do now to make next April 15 easier.
1.  Adjust your withholding - Why wait another year for a big refund? Now is a good time to review your withholding and make adjustments for next year, especially if you'd prefer more money in each paycheck this year. If you owed at tax time, perhaps you'd like next year's tax payment to be smaller. Use IRS's Withholding Calculator at http://www.irs.gov/ or Publication 919, How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding?
2.  Store your return in a safe place - Put your 2011 tax return supporting documents somewhere secure so you'll know exactly where to find them if you receive an IRS notice and need to refer to your return. If it is easy to find, you can also use it as a helpful guide for next year's return.
3.  Organize your recordkeeping - Establish a central location where everyone in your household can put tax-related records all year long. Anything from a shoebox to a file cabinet works. Just be consistent to avoid a scramble for misplaced mileage log or charity receipts come tax time.
4.  Review your paycheck - Make sure your employer is properly withholding and reporting retirement account contributions, health insurance payments, charitable payroll deductions and other items. These payroll adjustments can make a big difference on your bottom line. Fixing an error in your paycheck now gets you back on track before it becomes a huge hassle.
5.  Prepare to itemize deductions - If your expenses typically fall just below the amount to make itemizing advantageous, a bit of planning to bundle deductions into 2012 may pay off. An early or extra mortgage payment, pre-deadline property tax payments, planned donations or strategically paid medicals bills could equal some tax savings. See the Schedule A instructions for expenses you can deduct if you're itemizing and then prepare an approach that works best for you.
6.  Strategize tuition payments - The American Opportunity Tax Credit, which offsets higher education expenses, is set to expire after 2012. It may be beneficial to pay 2013 tuition in 2012 to take full advantage of this tax credit, up to $2,500, before it expires for more information, see IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Education.
The IRS emphasizes that each household's financial circumstances are different so it's important to fully consider your specific situation and goals before making large financial decisions.