J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax 2013: For Preparing Your 2012 Tax Return

46.2 Getting Ready To File Your Return

You must collect your tax records before you can start the preparation of your return. Even if you employ a tax professional to prepare your return, organizing your tax data is essential. Once you have compiled all your return information and your records are complete, decide whether to use Form 1040EZ, 1040A, or 1040 with the aid of the checklist at the front of this book on page 8. After you have decided which return to file, review the form to familiarize yourself with its details.

You may obtain IRS forms and publications online at www.irs.gov. You can obtain forms by phone from the IRS by calling [phone].

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Planning Reminder

Keep Copies

Make a copy of your signed return and keep it with copies of Form W-2 and other income statements, plus receipts, cancelled checks, and other items to substantiate your deductions.

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Checking for possible errors.

After you have completed your return, put it aside and postpone checking your completed return for several hours or even a day so that you can review it in a fresh state of mind. See below for common errors that might delay a refund or result in a tax deficiency and interest costs.

If mailing your return.

If you are mailing your return to the IRS, first check it to ensure the following:

• Your arithmetic is correct.
• Your Social Security number, and ...