Your Pre-Tax Season Tune-Up

According to Bill Smith, managing director of financial consulting firm CBIZ, you don't want to be late when it comes to filing your return. If you're hesitant because you don't think you'll be able to pay, know that you can always request a deferment or payment plan. The penalty you'll be hit with for failing to file is far more than the penalty for failing to pay. Smith says that while there is no failure-to-file penalty on returns that are due a refund, you shouldn't procrastinate. After three years, all refunds are forfeited.

Honestly, getting all of your required documents to file your return is the most tedious and complicated part of the process. Once you have all the necessary papers in front of you, it's just a matter of filling in the blanks. And while the new standard deduction increase may knock a lot of people out of itemizing deductions, you still want to have everything on hand before you start filing your return. NerdWallet has prepared the ultimate Tax Prep Checklist on what you need; from last year's taxes and income documents to any big expenses or donations you're planning to claim.

If you don't already have a tax attorney, you likely don't need to have a paid preparer handle your return. Just under 3.3 million federal taxpayers used Free File in fiscal year 2022. But 102 million didn't, despite being qualified. Of course, plenty used free tax preparation software from TurboTax and H&R Block. This is an excellent strategy, since the software will fully incorporate all tax changes for 2023. You get walked through the steps, answer some questions and the software handles all the technicalities for you. Of course, there are plenty of options when it comes to the software, so we'll refer you to DoughRoller, who compared six of the best tax return software programs on the market today.

Even if you primarily worked from home in 2023, you probably don't want to take the home office deduction. Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, you could deduct things like your internet or electricity bill if you had to work from home sometimes, for your employer. According to the IRS, “Employees who receive a paycheck or a W-2 exclusively from an employer are not eligible for the deduction, even if they are currently working from home.” However, if you're self-employed or you have a side hustle in the gig economy, you can deduct certain work-related expenses on your tax return.

If you received unemployment insurance benefits in 2023, you'll be receiving the 1099-G form, which lists the total amount of benefits you were paid. Usually, your unemployment checks are classified as income, but the recently-signed American Rescue Plan made changes to what is considered taxable income. Now, the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits will not be taxed for people who make less than an adjusted gross income of $150,000. If you received unemployment benefits exceeding $10,200, “you will have to report this amount on your tax return, unless you're not required to file a tax return,” says Kemberley Washington, a Certified Public Accountant and financial expert with Forbes Advisor. Unlike paychecks from an employer, taxes for unemployment aren't automatically withheld. While the new tax break will provide a cushion, you could still owe the IRS, or certain states, money.

With the child tax credit tax break, you could be eligible for up to $2,000 per child. And the refundable portion, also known as the additional child tax credit, is worth up to $1,600. But the rules around which kids qualify and how much money you could get refunded can be a little confusing. TurboTax has a rundown of key takeaways to keep in mind to help you determine eligibility.