“You don’t have to wait until the last moment, but you also don’t have to rush,” says Tom Oseven, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals.

Gathering all your documents, signing up for direct deposit, and keeping a copy of your tax return are some of the best practices when preparing to fill out your taxes. This year, due to the Republican influence tax and expense invoice Besides the one President Donald Trump signed into law over the summer, there’s a new deduction taxpayers should know about.

Miguel Burgos, a certified public accountant and TurboTax expert, said these include tax-free tips, tax-free overtime, a deduction for auto loan interest, and a deduction for people who were 65 or older by Dec. 31.

of Average refund amount Last year it was $3,167. Analysts predict it could rise by $1,000 this year due to changes in tax law. More than 165 million individual income tax returns were processed last year, with 94% filed electronically.

If the process seems too complicated, there are plenty of free resources to help you get through it.

Here’s what you need to know:

Please collect the documents

The required documents may vary depending on your individual case, but here is a general list of what everyone will need:

-social security number

—W-2 form (if employed)

—1099-G, if unemployed

—1099 form if self-employed

— Savings and investment records

— Qualified deductions for education expenses, medical expenses, charitable donations, etc.

—Tax credits such as the child tax credit and the retirement savings contribution credit.

To find a more detailed list of documents, please visit: IRS website.

Oseven recommends gathering all your documents in one place before you start filing your taxes, and saving last year’s documents as well. The taxpayer also Personal information protection PIN numberWork with the IRS to prevent identity theft. Once you create a number, the IRS will require it to file your tax return.

Learn about some of the changes this year

— Changes to basic deduction

The standard deduction for single taxpayers this year is $15,750. For married couples filing jointly, the amount increases to $31,500. For heads of household, the standard deduction is $23,625.

— Changes to state and local tax (SALT) deductions

The state and local tax deduction limit increased from $10,000 to $40,000. This change, also known as the Working Household Tax Cut, went into effect in July 2025.

“This is a huge benefit, especially for states like California, New York and New Jersey, which have high state income taxes,” said Keith Hall, a certified public accountant and president and CEO of the National Association of Self-Employed Workers.

The SALT credit is a federal tax credit for some state and local taxes paid during the year. Since its inception in 2018, total deductions have been capped at $10,000.

If you haven’t itemized your SALT deductions in the past, you may want to consider doing so this year. To know whether you should itemize your deductions, Oseven recommends asking yourself the following questions: Did you pay any state taxes? Did you pay any property taxes? Is there interest on the mortgage? Are there any charitable donations?

—Tip deduction

What is known as “no tax on tips” is not very accurate. this new deduction Only eligible tips qualify and are subject to income limits.

“It can be cash, it can be electronic, but the important thing is that it has to be voluntary (the tip),” Burgos said.

The annual deduction limit is $2,500. This deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds $150,000, or $300,000 for joint filers. Tax deductions are also limited to: specific industry Where tipping is common. Included industries include bartenders, food servers, musicians, and housekeeping cleaners.

To claim the new tax break, you’ll need to fill out a new tax form called Schedule 1-A.

—Additional Schedule 1-A Deductions

Schedule 1-A is an IRS form used to claim and calculate four tax credits on your tax and expense bill. They are changes to state and local tax credits, credits for qualified tips, auto loans and senior citizen credits.

Find resources

IRS Direct File, the electronic system for filing tax returns for free, will not be offered this year. For people with annual incomes of $89,000 or less, IRS Free File offers Free guided tax preparation. Choose from eight IRS partners, including TaxAct and FreeTaxUSA.

In addition to companies like TurboTax and H&R Block, taxpayers can also hire qualified professionals such as certified public accountants. The IRS provides: Taxpayer Directory all over America.

The IRS also funds two programs that provide free tax assistance: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE). People who make less than $69,000 a year, have a disability, or speak limited English are eligible for the VITA program. People age 60 and older are eligible to participate in the TCE program. The IRS has a site To find organizations that host VITA and TCE clinics.

Avoid common mistakes on tax returns

Many people fear getting into trouble with the IRS if they make a mistake. Here’s how to avoid the most common ones:

— Double-check the name on your Social Security card

When working with clients, Oseben asks them to double-check their numbers and legal names, which can change when they get married.

“If you got married last year and now want to use your married name, if you haven’t filed it with Social Security, your married name doesn’t exist,” Oseven says.

— Online tax statement search

Many people opt out of physical mailing, but if they do, tax documents may also be included.

“These documents may actually be available online because you may have chosen paperless communication, so you may need to go and pick them up in person,” Oseven said.

— Be sure to report all income

If you take a second job in 2025, you’ll need a W-2 or 1099 form for each job.

Generally, if you make a mistake or are missing something in your tax records, the IRS will conduct an audit. An audit means the IRS will request additional documentation.

Learn about the child tax credit

Currently, the tax credit is $2,200 per child, but only $1,700 is refundable. This refund is called the Additional Child Tax Credit. To claim the additional child tax credit, you must earn at least $2,500 in a tax year.

If you meet all eligibility requirements and have an annual income of $200,000 or less ($400,000 if filing jointly), you are eligible for the full child tax credit for each qualifying child. Parents or guardians with higher incomes may be able to claim a partial credit.

Click here to learn more about the child tax credit. here.

Avoid paper checks for tax refunds

Last September, the IRS began phasing out paper tax refund checks. If you are expecting tax refundThe IRS recommends signing up for direct deposit.

avoid tax fraud

Tax season is golden time tax fraudsaid Osabeng. These scams can occur via phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media. The IRS will not use any of these methods to contact taxpayers.

In some cases, the tax office may be committing fraud, so it’s important to ask questions. For example, if your tax professional tells you you’ll get a larger refund than you received in previous years, that could be a red flag, Oseven said.

If you’re not sure what your tax professional is working on, get a copy of your tax return and ask questions about each entry.

Keep a copy of your tax return

It’s a good idea to keep a record of your tax returns in case the IRS audits items you reported years ago. Oseben recommends keeping copies of your tax returns for five to seven years.