8 Stress-Free Ways To Meet the Tax Deadline

With the tax deadline extended to July in 2020, some Americans may be concerned about meeting the typical May 17 deadline in 2021. After all, didn’t we just do last year’s taxes?

Please note that The IRS has announced that the federal income tax deadline for individuals is May 17, 2021 for the 2020 tax year. State deadlines have not changed, however, so make sure to confirm your state’s due date before you file. 

See: The Major Tax Change for 2021 You Need To Know About

If you’re feeling the stress of Tax Day looming, check out these eight ways you can plan to easily meet the deadline.

Last updated: Mar. 18, 2021

1. Gather Your Documents in One Place

You’ll want to have all the necessary documents in front of you when you sit down to file, including any forms that report income (like W-2s and 1099s), receipts for expenses, mortgage interest and your kids’ correct Social Security numbers.

You must report all your sources of income to the IRS on your tax return, even if you didn’t receive a 1099 form for work or income in 2020.

Don’t Miss: Receipts You Need To Save for Tax Time

2. Go Online and E-File With Direct Deposit

Filing your taxes is more convenient than ever with online and mobile options available — no waiting in line necessary, plus there are several other benefits.

You don’t need to know anything about tax laws or forms to get your taxes done right. TurboTax asks simple questions about your life like, “Did you get married?” or “Did you have a baby?” and then personalizes the filing experience so you get every deduction and credit you deserve. You’ll even receive a confirmation when the IRS receives your tax return.

If you are expecting a tax refund, e-filing with direct deposit is an easy, secure and fast way to get your federal tax refund. Nine out of 10 tax refunds are issued within 21 days or fewer after IRS acceptance if you e-file with direct deposit, compared to six to eight weeks for paper-filed tax returns.

Find Out: What Does Biden’s Win Mean for Your Taxes?

3. Give Yourself a Deadline

You may have to file your taxes by midnight on the day of the tax deadline, but you can do yourself a huge favor by setting an earlier deadline so you don’t have to hurry through the paperwork and stress over missing a tax deduction or credit. Also, the sooner you file, the sooner you can get your tax refund.

Read: The Tax-Filing Mistakes All Retirees Make

4. Don’t Forget Tax Deductions and Estimated Tax Payments

If you’re working in the on-demand economy or as a freelancer, you’re allowed to deduct business expenses that you might not be eligible for as a W-2 employee, such as the self-employment tax, startup costs, computers, vehicle expenses and more.

You also can contribute to your SEP IRA account up until the tax deadline, which could lower your taxable income and tax liability on your taxes. Keep a record of your estimated tax payments, which will be due on a quarterly basis.

Don’t Miss: How To Calculate Estimated Taxes

5. Double-Check Important Information

According to the IRS, one of the top mistakes taxpayers make when rushing to meet the tax deadline is gathering incorrect Social Security numbers from their children and spouses. Correct Social Security numbers are required to get valuable tax deductions, credits and exemptions. Be sure to check who you can count for the year, because nonrelatives can be dependents too. If you provided over half of the support for your boyfriend, girlfriend or friend crashing on your couch, you may be able to claim them as a dependent.

6. File Even If You Owe

Owing money is the worst reason to file an extension, since an extension to file your taxes is not an extension to pay. You are still required to pay what you owe by the tax deadline. If you can’t afford your debt to Uncle Sam all at once, you can ask the IRS for an installment agreement when you file your taxes. This will allow you to pay your tax debt over the course of six years.

Related: How To File a Tax Extension With the IRS

7. Make a Smart Money Move

The tax deadline is also the deadline to contribute to your IRA and make a positive impact on your taxes. You still have time to contribute to your IRA and take a deduction on your taxes. Make sure you let your plan administrator know you want the money to apply to your 2020 IRA contribution.

8. If You Need Help, You’re Not Alone

Have a question while doing your taxes with TurboTax? You can connect live via video to a CPA or enrolled agent to get your toughest tax questions answered with TurboTax SmartLook™. Screen sharing capability allows a TurboTax tax expert to guide you by circling information and highlighting next steps right on the screen, so you can file with confidence.

Following these tips will help you avoid the common tax mistakes made in the last-minute rush to file before the deadline.

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About the Author

Lisa Greene-Lewis

Lisa Greene-Lewis is a certified public accountant and TurboTax tax expert. She has more than 15 years of experience in tax preparation, including positions as a public auditor, controller and operations manager.

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