| Tax Deduction Checklist | | | | Tax Advisors |
| The best tax deductions checklists are found in three | | | | Tax professionals are great at helping you identify |
| places: | | | | deductions for one time occurrences and helping you |
| Your past years' tax returns; With your tax | | | | organize your records and thoughts on how to |
| professional; and Through an online tax website | | | | approach the deductions that are available. You may |
| Past Years' Returns | | | | need advice on issues that you have never faced |
| Just by looking at the deductions you have been able | | | | before and those that run the risk of gaining or losing |
| to take in the past, you will get a good idea of what | | | | large sums of money. If so, your tax advisor is a great |
| deductions you can take this year. If you had | | | | resource for addressing these issues. |
| mortgage interest, real estate taxes, IRA contributions, | | | | Online Help |
| and charitable contributions last year - you probably | | | | TurboTax Online, for example, has exceptional |
| have them this year as well. The same is true of | | | | checklists for going over everything you need to |
| medical expenses, various taxes, that safe deposit | | | | consider before preparing your return and making sure |
| box you keep, and if you are required to pay certain | | | | you don't miss anything important. It asks interactive |
| expenses, like alimony. Finally, any business deductions | | | | questions, points out possible deductions you may |
| you have taken in the past, for a home office, travel, | | | | forget, and reminds of the things you need to have or |
| mileage, etc. is likely to follow a pattern you have | | | | consider when taking a specific deduction. |
| created and budgeted consistently. | | | | |