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7 Easy Steps to an Early Tax Refund.

If you want to get your 2008 taxes in early and get your refund quickly, here are Seven Strategies to getting those dollars in your pockets ASAP. Here's what you have to do:

1. Get started

The first step is the hardest. Stop thinking about it and get moving. Until you actually start your return, you'll never finish it. That's probably going to slow down your refund. If you don't have all your numbers, just put your name and address on the form. It will get you in the mind-set to move forward.

2. Accumulate the data

January is collection month. By the end of the first month of 2008, you should have the numbers in hand. Make sure you've gotten W-2s and any statements from your brokers and banks. You'll receive 1099 forms for any interest, dividends, and sales of stock. Your mortgage company will send you a Form 1098 for any interest and real-estate taxes paid. Get those statements together and review the numbers. They're not always right.

3. Put the numbers in IRS categories

Neither the IRS nor your CPA is going to add up those numbers for you. Well, maybe your CPA. Several years ago, a psychiatrist on the Main Line near Philadelphia paid me $150 an hour to open his mail because he couldn't be bothered. In any case, don't even suggest it to the IRS.

You're going to want to have totals for the income and deduction categories the IRS provides. You'll need that final "number" if you're doing your own return, whether by hand or by computer. If you're having your return prepared, you'll want to give that number to your CPA to minimize his or her bill.

I suggest my clients use what I call the "envelope" system. You create an envelope for each of the IRS income/deduction categories. There'll be an envelope for medical expenses, charitable contributions, job expenses, interest paid, etc. Find all the receipts, all the checks, all the invoices and put them in the appropriate envelope.

If you live in a state without an income tax, don't forget to look for numbers for a possible deduction of sales taxes.

These states are: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

In December 2008, Congress extended a number of tax breaks including the sales-tax and college-expense deductions, as well as increasing the tax-free contribution limits to health savings accounts. These breaks are still on the books for 2008. Although they expire after this year, they likely to be extended for 2008 and beyond.

You can use this simple system all year. Throw all of your receipts into a file or even a shoe box. When you reconcile your checking account, on a monthly or at least a quarterly basis, you break down the checks and receipts according to the categories you selected.

By the end of January, you should have all your checks and receipts broken down in each envelope by deduction category. You add up the receipts and checks (don't double count!), and that's the number you use on your return or give to your preparer.

That's how much you've spent in each deduction category. And, with this system, you never have to fear an audit.

An audit is nothing more than the IRS asking you to prove the numbers you put on your return. You've already done that. Just hand over the deduction-category envelope with the receipts and checks. After a series of matches, it's going to be a quick audit.

4. Analyze the numbers

Sometimes, the raw numbers you have are going to be wrong.

On the income side, you're required to report any and all interest and dividends received, even if you don't receive a Form 1099.

You'll have to match up the sales of stock with the cost of those shares. The number shown by your broker on Form 1099 B is only the sale price. You're not taxed on 100% of that number. You reduce it, on Schedule D of your return, by your cost, including broker's fees. You're only taxed on the net profit.

If you don't sell 100% of your position, you'll have to allocate your costs on a per-share basis.

On the deduction side, you may have deductions not reflected by the raw data.

Say you make your Jan. 1, 2008, mortgage payment on Dec. 31, 2008. The interest you paid won't be reflected on the Form 1098 sent by your mortgage company. That's because they didn't get the check or the online payment until 2008. (If you pay online, be sure your bank records the date that you send the payment properly. A canceled check is still adequate proof.)

Paying before the end of the year transforms your January 2008 payment into a 2008 deduction, and you should run an amortization schedule to compute the additional interest. That additional interest would be shown on line 11 of your Schedule A.

5. Call your accountant

If you're going to have your return professionally prepared, call your accountant now for an appointment.

I know, you're her favorite client. But if you want an appointment tomorrow, you better call her yesterday.

In any case, once you've made that appointment, you've made a commitment to get that return done. And that means you've committed to get ready yourself. Just make sure you've got the numbers in order when you show up. Your wallet will appreciate it.

6. Put ink to paper

Or, at least, open the tax program on your computer. You've got your numbers. If you're doing your own return, put ink to paper. Go to your quiet place and actually do your return.

You've done the real work. Now you're just putting numbers in boxes. Relax; this is really the easy part. Remember, we started with how to get your refund faster.

7. Mail your return

A completed return on your desk that calls for a refund is the IRS' idea of heaven. It's your money. Don't leave it with the IRS. It's bad enough that they've held it all year without paying you any interest on your excess payment. Don't compound the pain by delaying the mailing.

Of course, the best way to speed up your return is to e-file. The IRS appreciates the cost savings and claims it expedites your refund. The IRS is offering what it bills as a free e-filing service. It's not quite free. You may still have to pay a "transmitter" to convert your return into IRS code and send it on.

Source : articles.moneycentral.msn.com

Tax Refunds: How Do They Work?

The best part about filing your taxes is getting the tax refund check! Chances are, you have been paying your taxes directly, or your employer has been withholding tax dollars from your paychecks. Many individuals overpay on their taxes, so they quickly file their taxes to get their tax refunds and soon as possible.

How do tax refunds work?

Your employer withholds some of money from your paycheck, based on a formula and the information you provided on your W4 when you got hired. This withheld amount is applied towards your tax payment to the IRS.

Because the formula is only based on the allowances you showed on your W4 and of your paycheck, it doesn’t take other factors of your life into consideration. For example, hospital expenses, tuition payments, and childcare expenses aren’t considered.

When you file your taxes, you have the opportunity to claim these expenses as deductions. A deduction reduces your overall income. Therefore, you owe less in taxes and are qualified for tax refunds.Because you pay taxes to both the federal government and to the state, you might receive two tax refunds. The amount will depend on how much you have overpaid throughout the year. To make sure you receive both tax refunds, you will have to file your taxes with both the federal government and the state government.

How do I get my tax refunds?

To get your tax refunds, you have to file your tax returns. You can do this on your own or by hiring a tax accountant or specialist. You must also make the deadline, which is usually in April, or file for an extension. You can find more information on these topics at the IRS website.

Most individuals opt to file taxes on their own to save from having to pay professional fees to tax specialists. Thanks to the Internet, almost anyone can easily file their taxes online! There are many software and program choices available online.

You will need your W2’s or 1099’s, and other documents to file your taxes. Once you have these documents, you can use online tax filing programs to plug in your information. Tax filing programs are easy to use, with clear instructions and instant help. The program will guide you through each step, and will even help you find deductions to maximize your deductions and refund checks!

Easy way to check Your Tax Refund

If you already filed your federal tax return and are due a refund, you have several options for checking on the status of your refund.

One way is to use “Where’s My Refund?” an interactive tool on simple online instructions guide taxpayers through a process that checks the status of their refund after they provide identifying information shown on their tax return. Once the information is processed, you could get several responses, including:

1. Acknowledgement that your return was received and is in processing.

2. The mailing date or direct deposit date of your refund.

3. Notice that the IRS could not deliver your refund due to an incorrect address. To ensure delivery, you can change or correct your address online.

Where’s My Refund? is a very flexible tool. Whether you split your refund among several accounts, opt for direct deposit into one account, or ask IRS to mail you a check, where’s My Refund? gives you online access to your refund information. You can even use where’s My Refund? If you filed taxes only to claim a refund of the telephone excise tax.

It also includes links to customized information based on the taxpayer’s specific situation. The links guide taxpayers through the steps they need to take to resolve any issues that may be affecting their refund. For example, if you do not get the refund within 28 days from the original IRS mailing date shown on Where’s My Refund?, you can do a refund trace online.

The “Where’s My Refund?” service meets stringent IRS security and privacy certifications. Taxpayers enter identifying information that includes their Social Security number, filing status and the exact amount of the refund shown on the return. This specific information verifies that the person is authorized to access that account and avoids an unsuccessful response.