New York — Tax season is underway and you have until April 15 to file your tax return with the IRS. If you want to avoid the stress of a looming deadline, start organizing as early as possible.
“Don’t wait until the last minute, but don’t rush, either,” said Tom Osapin, 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 copies of your tax returns are best practices when it comes to preparing to fill out your taxes. This year, it’s because of the Republican Tax and spending bill Signed by President Donald Trump over the summer, there are new deductions taxpayers should know about.
Among them are no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, deductions for auto loan interest, and deductions for people who turn 65 or older by Dec. 31, said Miguel Burgos, a certified public accountant and TurboTax expert.
the Average recovery Last year it was $3,167. This year, analysts expect it to be $1,000 higher, thanks to changes in the tax code. More than 165 million individual tax returns were processed last year, 94% of which were filed electronically.
If you find the process too overwhelming, there are plenty of free resources to help you get through it.
Here are some things you need to know:
Although the documents required may depend on your individual situation, here is a general list of what everyone needs:
-Social security number
—W-2 forms, if you are an employee
—1099-G, if you are unemployed
– 1099 forms, if you are self-employed
– Savings and investment records
—Any qualifying deduction, such as educational expenses, medical bills, charitable donations, etc.
– Tax credits, such as the child tax credit, retirement savings contributions credit, etc.
To find a more detailed list of documents, visit Tax Authority website.
O’Saben recommends gathering all your documents in one place before starting your tax return as well as getting your documents from last year. Taxpayers can also create a Password to protect identity With the IRS to protect against identity theft. Once you create a number, the IRS will ask it for your tax return.
– Change to the standard deduction
The standard deduction for single taxpayers is $15,750 for this year. For married couples filing jointly, the amount rises to $31,500. For heads of household, the standard deduction is $23,625.
– Change to the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction.
The maximum deduction for state and local taxes increased from $10,000 to $40,000. This change is also known as the Working Families Tax Cut and was enacted in July 2025.
“This is a huge benefit, especially for states like California, New York and New Jersey, which have higher state income taxes,” said Keith Hall, president and CEO of the National Association of the Self-Employed and a certified CPA.
The SALT deduction is a federal tax deduction for certain state and local taxes paid during the year. The maximum deduction has been capped at $10,000 since its inception in 2018.
People who haven’t previously itemized their SALT deduction may want to consider it this year. To find out if you should itemize your deductions, Osabin recommends asking yourself the following questions: Have you paid state taxes? Have you paid property taxes? Do you have mortgage interest? Do you have charitable contributions?
– Discounts for tips
What’s known as “no tax on tips” isn’t entirely accurate. this New discount Intended only for qualified tips and subject to income limitations.
“It can be cash or electronic as well. But the main thing is that (tips) are voluntary,” Burgos said.
The maximum annual deductible is $2,500. The deduction is phased out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income of more than $150,000, or $300,000 for joint filers. The tax deduction is also limited to Specific industries Tipping is a common practice. Some of the industries listed are bartenders, caterers, musicians, and housekeeping cleaners.
To claim the new tax credit, you’ll need to fill out a new tax form called Schedule 1-A.
—Supplemental Table 1-A Deductions
Schedule 1-A is an IRS form used to claim and calculate four tax deductions arising from your tax and spending bill. They are the change in state and local tax deduction, deduction for qualified tips, car loan and senior citizen deductions.
IRS Direct File, the electronic system for filing tax returns for free, will not be offered this year. For those who make $89,000 or less annually, the IRS offers Free File Free guided tax preparation; You can choose from eight IRS partners, such as TaxAct and FreeTaxUSA.
Beyond companies like TurboTax and H.P&R Block, taxpayers can also hire licensed professionals, such as certified public accountants. The IRS offers a Tax Preparer Guide All over the United States.
The IRS also funds two programs that provide free tax assistance: Voluntary Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE). People who earn $69,000 or less per year, have a disability, or speak limited English are eligible for the VITA program. Those 60 or older are eligible for the TCE program. The IRS has a website To locate organizations hosting VITA and TCE clinics.
Many people fear getting in trouble with the IRS if they make a mistake. Here’s how to avoid some of the most common ones:
– Double-check your name on your Social Security card
When working with clients, O’Saben asks them to double-check their numbers and legal names, which can change when people get married.
“If you got married last year and now want to use your married name, that married name won’t exist if you don’t file it with Social Security,” Osapin said.
—Look up tax data online
Many people opt out of physical mail, but when you do, it may also include your tax documents.
“These documents may already be available online because you may have chosen to make a paperless communication. For this reason, you may need to obtain those documents yourself,” Osapin said.
– Make sure you report all of your income
If you have a second job in 2025, you need a W-2 or 1099 form for each job.
Generally, if you make a mistake or miss something in your tax records, the IRS will audit you. An audit means the IRS will ask you for more documentation.
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 have an income of at least $2,500 for the tax year.
You are eligible for the full amount of the Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child if you meet all eligibility factors and your annual income is no more than $200,000 ($400,000 if filing a joint return). Parents and guardians with higher incomes may be eligible to claim a partial credit.
You can find more details about the child tax credit here.
Last September, the IRS began phasing out paper checks for tax refunds. If you expect a Tax refundThe IRS recommends signing up for direct deposit.
Tax season is peak time for Tax scamsThese scams can come via phone, text, email and social media. The IRS does not use any of these methods to contact taxpayers,” Osabin said.
Sometimes scams are run by tax preparers, so it’s important to ask lots of questions. If a tax preparer says you’ll get a larger refund than you received in previous years, for example, that could be a red flag, Osabin said.
If you can’t see what your tax preparer is working on, get a copy of your tax return and ask questions about each of the entries.
It’s always a good practice to keep a record of your tax returns, just in case the IRS is auditing you for an item you reported years ago. O’Saben recommends keeping copies of your tax return documents for five to seven years.
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