169642 79 Business & Finance Taxes Tax Planning true Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:32:21 -0700 /system/videos/4/42/96/16/169642.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, business, finance, taxes How To Organize Your Tax Papers http://www.howcast.com/videos/169642-How-To-Organize-Your-Tax-Papers http://www.howcast.com/videos/169642-How-To-Organize-Your-Tax-Papers/edit approved 140 640 480 <object width="425" height="352" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=169642"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=169642" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="352" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" ></embed></object> 4 NelsonN http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169642/Picture_8_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png 576 false false false 65448 1 20 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169642/20.jpg Get set up Clear off a nice big table, and gather any financial statements and receipts that may be even remotely relevant. Be sure you have all the materials that were mailed to you after January 1st in envelopes marked “Important Tax Document Enclosed.”

]]> 65449 2 36 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169642/36.jpg Identify income Pull out your income data, which for most people means an employer-provided W-2 form. Independent contractors and the self-employed will likely have 1099’s. Relevant documentation for bank interest, asset sales, and any other money you made this year should also go in this first pile.

]]> 65450 3 53 Tip If you’re missing any income statements, go to www.irs.gov for information on how to retrieve them.

]]> 65451 4 62 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169642/62.jpg Separate interest If you have made payments on a student loan or mortgage, find the 1098 forms sent to you by your lender and put them in a second pile.

]]> 65452 5 73 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169642/73.jpg Gather deductions Collect every receipt that represents a possible deduction, such as charitable donations, alimony payments, medical bills, taxes paid, and un-reimbursed job expenses. Divide the job expenses into the sub-groups of travel, entertainment, home office, supplies, and other. This is pile number three.

]]> 65453 6 96 Tip The IRS has very specific regulations regarding write-offs. Consult a professional for advice or research the rules before filing your return.

]]> 65454 7 102 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169642/102.jpg Sort out child-related deductions Sort out any expenses related to children, such as child care costs and tuition and make this pile number four. Add any other expenses that might entitle you to a tax credit, such as the purchase of an energy-efficient appliance.

]]> 65455 8 119 Step http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/169642/119.jpg Clip the piles Bind the piles and sub-groups together with paper clips and place everything in one nice, neat folder. Doing your taxes seems a little less daunting now, no?

]]> 65456 9 129 Fact Americans spend over 6.6 billion hours preparing their taxes each year.

]]> 78 94487 How To File Your Taxes Online AssignmentGuide 494 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:33:11 -0800 6 BatSquid_Studios ]]> 130 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/1/87/44/09/94487.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, business, finance, taxes Business & Finance Taxes Tax Returns 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/94487/Picture_5_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/94487-How-To-File-Your-Taxes-Online 35 218066 How To Buy Renters Insurance AssignmentGuide 482 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:02:52 -0700 2 Armando79 ]]> 109 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/85/02/24/240285.flv business, finance, insurance, home, house, protecting, insuring, buying, purchasing, renting Business & Finance Insurance Home Insurance 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/218066/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/218066-How-To-Buy-Renters-Insurance 38 92109 How To Effectively Communicate With Your Boss AssignmentGuide 2797 Fri, 05 Dec 2008 09:30:44 -0800 9 BatSquid_Studios ]]> 110 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/09/21/09/92109.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, business, managment, manage Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Business Communication 0 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/92109/Picture_12_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/92109-How-To-Effectively-Communicate-With-Your-Boss 39 114768 How To Practice Good Etiquette in Your Cubicle AssignmentGuide 1655 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:04:37 -0800 5 vertizonticalstudios ]]> 79 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/68/47/11/114768.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, business, work, office Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Business Etiquette 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/114768/Picture_11_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/114768-How-To-Practice-Good-Etiquette-in-Your-Cubicle 40 55404 How Not To Conduct a Job Interview AssignmentGuide 2010 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:15:39 -0800 8 karmatrain ]]> 119 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/6/04/54/05/55404.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, business, management, manage Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Hiring & Firing 3 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/55404/Picture_7_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/55404-How-Not-To-Conduct-a-Job-Interview 40 151427 How To Conduct a Job Interview AssignmentGuide 1312 Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:49:06 -0800 5 michaelrsanchez ]]> 141 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/27/14/15/151427.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, business, job, work Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Hiring & Firing 0 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Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, business, work, workplace, job, company, management, skills, firing, fire, someone, employee, staff, lay, laying, off Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Hiring & Firing 7 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/217102/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/217102-How-Not-To-Fire-Somebody 42 114326 How To Micromanage Like a Real Ass**** AssignmentGuide 2580 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:02:58 -0800 14 pancakes81 ]]> 130 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/2/26/43/11/114326.flv DIY, Instructional, tutorial, Do It Yourself, Tips, Essential Skills, Learn to, business, work, workplace Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Managing Employees 2 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/114326/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/114326-How-To-Micromanage-Like-a-Real-Ass 42 204102 How To Write a Letter Of Reference AssignmentGuide 503 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:33:02 -0700 5 downpourpro ]]> 94 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/3/02/41/20/204102.flv reference, letter, write, learn, business, business skills, managing, employees, employee Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Managing Employees 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/204102/Picture_3_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/204102-How-To-Write-a-Letter-Of-Reference 44 217966 How To Give an Effective Business Presentation AssignmentGuide 591 Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:32:16 -0700 4 BarefootMedia ]]> 114 http://media.howcast.com/system/videos/5/94/82/26/268294.flv business, corporate, spreadsheets, kinko's, wall street, meetings, conference calls Business & Finance Management & Business Skills Presentations 1 http://img.howcast.com/system/thumbnails/217966/biz_preso_1_xxlarge_maintained_aspect.png http://www.howcast.com/videos/217966-How-To-Give-an-Effective-Business-Presentation 46 2727 How To Stop Procrastinating AssignmentGuide 17394 Mon, 19 May 2008 23:00:38 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