The 2015 year has ended, but the 2015 tax season is upon us. It is always better to start preparing to file your taxes sooner rather than later to ensure you file on time before the April 15th deadline.
To get a jump on the season you can start preparing by getting your information together for your income and deductions. Generally your income will be reported on a W-2 or 1099, but remember, even if you do not receive a tax form, all income is subject to income tax. An example of this could be gambling winnings or fantasy football league winnings. You may be able to offset some of those winnings with an itemized gambling loss deduction. But I digress, the point is to start getting this information together now because putting it off will only cause unnecessary delays. You need to report health insurance information on your tax return now as well, so this information is another example of what to gather.
It is also a good idea to make an appointment now with your tax preparer because the longer you wait, the more likely your tax preparer will not have time to complete your return before the deadline. Also, by making an appointment now, you will have more motivation to start preparing your information for the upcoming meeting.
As a final note, if you are required to pay estimated payments, remember that your fourth quarter payment is due on Friday April 15th!