All you need to know about filing your tax returns

Filing taxes is one of the most stress-inducing but extremely fundamental part of any professional’s life. While filing taxes can seem like a Herculean task, educating yourself about the process can help you navigate this troublesome task with some ease. Here is all you need to know about filing your tax returns.

Collect all your tax forms and documents
Gathering all the essential forms, including the free 1099 form and other essential documents, can be an extremely frustrating task. In principle, all these documents must be sent to you by January 31, which means you must receive them by early February. In case you haven’t, you must follow up and make sure no documents are lost in transit or in the mail. Keeping a track of forms and documents you need is essential to ensure you don’t miss out on any essential document before the date of filing.

Identify your method of filing taxes
You can file your taxes offline as well as electronically and you can choose the method that suits you the best. However, if you want to receive a quick refund, it is usually advised that you file your taxes online and select direct deposit as the method for receiving your refund.

Choose an e-filing service
If you are opting to file your taxes, including your free 1099 form online, you can choose from any one of the popular online tax services like TurboTax or H&R Block. These are easy to use and are designed to be handled by anyone including tax amateurs. One of the important advantages of using an online service is that they not only help you with tax calculations but also help you identify what forms, such as the free 1099 form, are applicable in your case. Also, people with an annual income of less than $66,000 can electronically file their federal tax return for free using one of the several tax software companies listed on the IRS website, offering free filing. Similarly, in a lot of cases, you can also file your state taxes electronically for free, if you research and locate the right e-filing service.

File your returns as soon as possible to avoid fraud
The most reliable way to avoid frauds and tax scams like identity thefts during tax season is to file your tax returns, including the free 1099 form, as soon as possible before potential fraudsters and scamsters can target you.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

  • Top 4 credit cards for bad credit
    People who have faltered in maintaining a good credit history and do not have the required score can still apply for a credit card. The issuer of the card is at a higher risk of losing his money with such applicants. Therefore, these cards are specially created to ensure both the consumer and the issuer profit from it. Since online approvals have become the new trend, below are the top four options for credit cards with bad credit that are instantly approved Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit Apart from knowing the fate of your application within seconds, this card also provides you the benefit of 1% cash-back on purchases with eligible partners. The rewards are credited to your account monthly. Along with this, you can also track your credit score for free, receive alerts, and get various opportunities to increase your credit line. The ease of use makes this card one of the best credit cards for bad credit with instant approval. Green Dot primor® Visa Gold Secured Credit Card With an annual fee of $49, this credit card comes with various benefits. It is one of the easiest cards for you to receive instant approval. It is safe because it reports to all three bureaus and you do not need to have a perfect credit history to get this card. The APR (Annual Percentage Rate) for the same is 9.99%, making it a good choice. First Progress Platinum Elite MasterCard® Secured Credit Card All the cards by First Progress come with an option of instant approval and do not require you to have a good credit history. Being the lowest variant of this particular product, this card has an APR rate of 20.24% and has a variable APR of 25.24% for cash advances. Additionally, you can use it anywhere nationwide, and it comes with an annual fee of only $39. First Access VISA® Credit Card It comes with a starting annual fee of $300, but it depends on your eligibility as well. Even though no credit history is required, you may be required to pay off your bills up till 21 days from the due date to avoid any interest on your expenditure. It takes about 60 seconds to get instant approval. It is safe, and if you are eligible, your card will reach you soon. Although, it is highly advisable for you to maintain a good credit score and not exploit your credit card. In case you have not been able to, the options mentioned above are great to consider for credit cards with instant approval.
  • 4 essential features to look for in a business laptop
    “Hey there, I want you to buy 200 top-quality, high-performance laptops for our employees. And make sure they are good,” says your boss as you walk into the office on a Monday morning. Well, what better way to start the Monday blues than this? Worry not! By the time you’re done with this article, selecting the best business laptops would be as easy as a breeze for you. Unlike home laptops, a business laptop has many more inbuilt features like fingerprint scanners, face readers, and Trusted Platform Module (TPM) so that no one gets into your system without your knowledge. So let’s get down with understanding what it takes to buy a top-notch business laptop.
    • Multi-core processor: This is vital when it comes to getting the best business laptops. No business has even a minute to waste. And bearing that in mind, a multi-core processor makes sure your laptop doesn’t slow down while you’re running multiple apps like your browser, an antivirus scan, as well as your excel sheet, at the same time. Dual-core processors make for a smooth computing experience, while quad-core processors are good for heavy-duty graphic and database work.
    • Memory: This is really simple to figure—the more the memory, the better and smoother the performance of your laptop. In fact, some of the best business laptops come endowed with a RAM as high as 16GB.
    • Storage: A good business laptop needs to have a minimum of about 500GB disk space and this could go higher, depending on whether your business is data intrinsic or not. We recommend buying one that comes with SSD to get one of the best business laptops experience as it makes the functioning of your laptop ultra-smooth.
    • Connectivity: For any business, connectivity is the key. The best business laptops come with an inbuilt mobile broadband card that ensures users enjoy a seamless Internet streaming experience. If not this, at least make sure your laptop has an 802.11g or preferably 802.11n Wi-Fi card.
    Armed with this information, we’re sure you would do a good job of impressing your boss with your business laptop purchase!
  • Advantages of using an Apple iPad
    Apple iPad does not only look nice, but it also has some nicer things to offer as well. There are quite a few advantages of using iPad over other tablets available in the market today. Apple thought a lot about its loyal customer base when it first launched the device in 2010. Since then, the tech giant has only chosen to do the best with iPad so that the users are happy. Without further ado, let’s find out some of the benefits of owning an Apple iPad irrespective of the model. Portability Even laptops are portable, but iPads are lighter along with being portable. Once you have used an iPad, you would never want to lift another laptop and move around carrying it. This is because an iPad can do everything that your laptop or desktop can do minus the weight issue. Numerous app There is hardly any app that you think you need and is not there in the Apple App Store. You would get everything that you need to carry on with your day to day personal and professional life along with your vocations as well. Apart from the regular apps like calendar, email client, web browser, maps package, video conferencing app, notepad and contacts list, you have over a million options to choose from as per your requirements. You also get iWork and iLife suites free with the latest iPad. While most apps are free, there are some apps with a price tag as well. However, you can rest assured that the amount you need to pay is nothing in comparison to what you would get in return. Games Apple iPad is a gamer’s paradise. You can find all sorts of games in the App Store that you can download and play on your iPad with ease. There are both free and paid games which you can browse and download. User friendly The Apple iPad is extremely user-friendly with its intuitive UI. Even a child can use the device without any difficulty. The ease of use of the device has made day to day activities easier as well since you get to use so many apps to carry on with everyday work.
  • 5 most reliable appliance brands
    The advantage of being a part of the 21st century is that we have an access to all the great innovations that are designed to save our precious time. Home appliances are those devices that have made themselves indispensable to the modern-day individual's life. These are the basic necessity of every home. We would have to buy appliances at some point in time irrespective of whether it is new or second-hand. While buying appliances there are plenty of things we have to keep in mind like the brand, performance, features, looks, reliability, price, etc. When it comes to features, we might compromise with some of them because of the budget. But when it comes to brands, we want them to be reliable. No one wants to buy appliances from a brand that doesn’t make reliable appliances. There are so many appliance stores that sell great appliances which are affordable and reliable. If you are someone who wants to buy appliances but are confused about all the existing brands in the market, and which brand will be reliable and affordable, then here is a list of brands that make the most reliable appliances and have amazing designs. Whirlpool Whirlpool Corporation is a home appliance company and it also ranks number one as a major appliance manufacturer in the world. The annual sales revenue of Whirlpool is USD 21 billion. With 70 manufacturing and research centers, it comes under the most famous appliance brands in the industry. It also ranks high when it comes to the reliability of its bottom-freezers, top-freezers, and side-by-side refrigerators. The dishwashers by Whirlpool are also reliable and highly functional.  LG LG Electronics is an electronics company and is one of the leading brands for producing flat-screen televisions, air conditioners, refrigerators, and washing machines. The global sales revenue of LG in 2014 was USD 55.91 billion. It is famous for its innovative technology, cutting-edge designs, and unique products. LG is known for producing the best refrigerators from a long period of time. They consume less power and are durable which leads to a longer lifespan of the refrigerator. Samsung Samsung is a South Korean multinational company famous for its electronics. It keeps updating its products regularly and has a lot of models to choose from in each category. Samsung is known for its innovations, style, and designs. It has customer-friendly service which makes it a good brand among customers. Even though Samsung is best known for smartphones, its home appliances are also reliable and affordable. If you are looking to buy Samsung appliances you can buy them from a Samsung appliance store near you. Maytag Maytag is an American home appliance brand owned by Whirlpool Corporation. It was founded in the year 1893 and its main aim is to provide dependability to the people. It also aims at providing the best technology, design, and service to its customers. The Maytag appliances are durable and reliable. Their home, laundry, and kitchen appliances offer dependability. Maytag also offers 10 years of warranty on every appliance. If you are looking to buy Maytag appliances then you may go to the nearest Maytag appliance store. KitchenAid KitchenAid is the most reliable, recognized, and trusted home appliance brand. It is owned by Whirlpool Corporation. KitchenAid produces some high-end appliances and refrigerators. Their range of two ovens was a trendsetter. They create high-performance appliances with versatile technology. KitchenAid is also among the most affordable and durable appliance brands in the market. They are known for their iconic stand mixers. Their appliances have the best designs, style, and technology. These were some of the most reliable appliance brands that are affordable as well. They offer the best technology and design which will make your home look perfect.
  • Learn about different types of freezers
    Everybody is leading a busy life. Many people don't realize the real impact of a freezer. You must select the right freezer size for your home to keep the foods fresh. Freezers help you store a lot of frozen goods and selecting the right machine makes all the difference. When selecting a freezer, you must decide about the size, brand, and color. Chest freezer Chest freezers are popular, and there is no need to place them in the kitchen. You can keep them in the utility room. A chest freezer has access from the top, and it can hold large portions of food. It is a good choice for the larger household. These types of machines are available in different sizes, and you can easily find one that meets your needs. Under counter freezer If you are living in a compact home, you can select an under counter freezer to safeguard your frozen foods. It goes well with compact kitchens, and these models are available in graphite, white and black. Under counter, versions have freezer drawers for storing all your frozen goods with great ease. Upright freezer Bigger households can go for upright freezers. These models look like fridges, but they are equipped with freezer drawers. The drawers allow you to have an easy viewing. They are available in different colors such as graphite, silver, and white. You can blend them with any kitchen design. If you have a fridge, you can match it with the freezer for maintaining your kitchen color coded and uniform. An upright freezer stores large quantities of foods and it is a very good option for larger households with a lot of family members. The models are also known as larder freezers. When selecting a freezer, you must be aware of the quantity of the foods you want to store at a given time. It helps you determine the size of the freezer easily. There are a good number of online stores that sell high-quality machines, and you can make use of online discount sales offered by these stores to save a lot of money on freezer purchase.
  • Five best internet service providers to choose from
    The Internet has become an inevitable part of our lives. It is essential to the source of information and entertainment for almost everyone. While most of the communication networks provide data services that can be used to get information, the internet service providers have become a massive rage. ISP poses as a good option for those who want a stable working internet service that can be used on the same plan by different people. The plans formatted by the internet service providers are such that they can be broadly classified into two categories: Home-based plans and business internet providers. The former is suitable for members of the family, and the latter is better suited for small and large businesses looking to connect with counterparts and establish a network with the world to accomplish daily tasks at hand. The plans can comfortably accommodate all the desktops and laptops to provide a uniform speed all across. Some of the best business internet service providers have been mentioned as under along with the features that set them apart. Verizon It is one of the most coveted ISP. There are various plans available for small to large business setups, but the fastest plan for business setup boasts of speeds of 940 download and 880 uploads. This is one of the fastest growing networks in the industry. AT&T If you are looking for a customer service that lives of the word spectacular then you must invest in this service provider without further questioning. You have the liberty of choosing between the best DSL and fiber plans as per your requirement and get the one that suits your business idea the best. Spectrum It is an offshoot of charter communication brand that is known for quality network solutions all across. The best part about this plan is the fact that it provides business internet cable free of charge for 12 months and money back guarantee. So this plan will lock your money in for a time span when you can establish the goodwill of the brand for yourself. HughesNet® It is a USA-based satellite internet service provider. The plans offered by them for business setup range from data limits of 35 to 250GB total which is a massive jump for other internet services. Frontier Communications It is a brand known to offer the cheapest and best services of the internet in the business industry. You can purchase a fiber for the internet support if the offer is not enough for you.