Get Ready for Tax Season: How to Prepare and Stay Stress‑Free

Tax season doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With a little preparation now, you can make filing faster, easier, and far less stressful. The IRS even provides a helpful roadmap to get you started — and one of their biggest tips is simple: gather and organize your tax records early.

Below, we’ll walk through some of the key items you should collect and why they matter. And we will share a few other tips to help your tax season go more smooth.

Gather All Your Income Forms

Before filing, make sure you have every income document you need. The IRS advises waiting until you have all your records in hand to avoid mistakes or missing information. This includes:

• Forms 1099 from banks, unemployment offices, and other payers — covering income such as dividends, retirement distributions, or unemployment compensation

• Form W‑2, 1099‑K, 1099‑MISC, or other gig‑economy income statements

Collecting these early ensures your return is complete — and helps prevent delays.

Don’t Forget Your Health Insurance Forms

If you received Marketplace coverage, you’ll need Form 1095‑A (Health Insurance Marketplace Statement) to reconcile advance payments or claim Premium Tax Credits. This document is essential for an accurate return if you used any Marketplace plan during the year.

Provide Clear Business Income and Expense Records

If you are a small business owner, it is critical that you provide clear, detailed records of income and deductible business expenses, making it easier to claim them correctly and avoid missing valuable write‑offs. With clean, up‑to‑date books, tax filing becomes faster, smoother, and less stressful—allowing you to focus more on running your business and less on sorting receipts at the last minute. Learn more about good recordkeeping from the IRS.

Create an IRS Online Account and Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)

Having an IRS Online Account gives you secure access to essential tax information all year long. Through this account, you can view or download key details from past tax returns, make or schedule payments, and even request an Identity Protection PIN to help safeguard your tax identity. You can also check your refund status and adjust communication preferences, making it easier to stay organized and avoid surprises during tax season.

Final Thoughts

Kick off your tax season prep now, and you’ll thank yourself later. A bit of organization — especially gathering those key IRS‑recommended documents — sets you up for a stress‑free filing experience and a quicker refund.