| When I receive tax information from a client, I | | | | 2. You are most often able to obtain an |
| know that this task was a real challenge. It's not a | | | | "organizer" from your CPA. This organizer shows |
| priority and it's not fun......so many people get me | | | | you what information you had in the previous |
| their tax information very near to the tax filing | | | | year so you can use it as a checklist to see you |
| due date - when they can no longer find an | | | | have similar information for the current year. |
| excuse to put it off for another day. | | | | Generally you have similar data year to year and |
| I recommend the following method to accumulate | | | | you know what additional investments or |
| your tax information with the least amount of | | | | accounts or what unusual transactions happened |
| pain and misery: | | | | that you need to tell your CPA about. |
| 1. Designate a separate spot on the counter, your | | | | 3. Just because you don't have one or two items, |
| desk or in your den to accumulate all the tax | | | | don't wait to get the information to your CPA. |
| related documents that appear during the month | | | | Everyone seems to wait until near the filing |
| of January and early February. A file folder | | | | deadline. This is why CPAs give you reminders |
| marked "20XX Tax Information" or an envelope | | | | and send organizers to you in January, so you can |
| so marked will give this data a home. I | | | | avoid the last minute rush. If you have almost all |
| recommend a colored file folder if you have one. | | | | your data, send it on to your CPA with a note |
| This makes the folder easier to locate amongst | | | | delineating what is missing. You can easily fax the |
| your "junk mail". | | | | remaining information. |