Taxes can be complicated business, but they don’t have to be. These tips will help make tax time a little less painful and a lot less of a hassle for you every year.

Keep your Receipts

It can seem like a hassle to keep all of your receipts all year long, but this can be a huge time saver when it comes time to do your taxes. Not only that, but if you buy something for your job for which you are not reimbursed by your company, you can often deduct the cost of the item on your taxes as a business expense.

Know your Deductions and Credits

One of the most important things to remember is that deductions can save you a lot of money at tax time. It’s important to be aware of any deductions for which you may be eligible. Things like deductions for working from home, travelling expenses, business lunch expenses, etc. are potentially all deductions for which you can be eligible. Similarly, it’s a good idea to know which tax credits you might qualify for. For example, if you care for a dependent relative, you may be eligible for a money-saving tax credit at the end of the tax year.

Invest Wisely

When you are choosing how to invest your money, consider those investments that are tax free. These investments usually don’t garner as high returns as other investments, but that is usually offset by the fact that you won’t have to pay taxes on them at the end of the year.

Count your Donations

Charitable donations are a great way to pay it forward and help those in need. From a tax perspective, donating items or money to a registered charity can be used as a deduction on your taxes. Remember to ask for a receipt!

Maximize your Retirement Fund Contributions

If you fall into that limbo category of being too young to retire and yet too old to have young children at home whom you can claim as dependents, one of the many specialists in tax consulting Calgary has to offer may recommend that you maximise your yearly contributions to your retirement fund. This is a sound investment because it ensure you will have a nice little “nest egg” for when it does come time to retire.

Hire a Tax Consultant

Hire a tax consultant to do your taxes. They have the expertise and experience necessary to file your taxes accurately. Moreover, they also know the tax laws inside and out and can ensure you are taking full advantage of deductions you may qualify for and any tax credits that apply to you. That can save you a lot of money and ensure you get the maximum tax refund you can.

Tax time can be stressful for the average homeowner, but if you don’t know what you are doing it can be doubly stressful. It’s no wonder so many people put off doing their taxes! This year, hand your tax preparation over to a trusted professional tax preparer and rest assured that things are being taken care of to your best advantage.