Though the 2012 filing season has passed, it’s never too early to start preparing for next year’s season. Pre-filing preparation is important in tax filing, whether you are using Free File, or using tax software on your own, or seeking professional filing help. The following is a guide on how to prepare tax files.

Start by rounding up all your tax documents like:

• The federal return from the previous year(s)
• The Personal Identification Number (PIN) you used in the previous year. The PIN or the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) to verify your identity and submit your return electronically
• 1098s for mortgage interest paid. If you bought your house last year, get the closing statement
• W-2s for wages, salaries, tips, and pensions
• 1099s for interest, dividends, retirement plan distributions, unemployment and other payments, and state tax refunds
• Retirement plan contribution statements
• K-1s form partnerships, S corporations, estates, and trusts
• Your Social Security numbers and that of your spouse and all dependents

Next, have all receipts and records of deductions for the following:

• Taxes paid during that year. These include state and local income or sales taxes, real estate taxes, and property taxes
• Medical and dental expenses that includes doctor checkup charges, drugs, hospital bills, medical insurance premiums that are not paid at work via pre-tax dollars, dental care costs, and mileage to and from physicians’ offices.
• Mortgage interest and points on the Form 1098 or any other substitute form
• Casualty and robbery losses
• Investment expenses
• Charitable contributions that maybe cash, credit card, or assets and clothing
• Gambling losses
• Work related costs

For small business owners, receipts and documentation about your company are necessary. These include:

• Income statements
• Home size and office space size
• Keogh, SIMPLE, SEP and other self-employed pension plan contributions
• Self-employed health insurance payments
• Details on use of your vehicle

If you are doing the filing yourself or a tax expert is assisting, you need to consider some details to assist you in filing:

• Did your marital status change in the previous year and if divorced, did you pay out or receive any alimony?
• Do you have dependents not living with you?
• Have you received any correspondence from the internal Revenue Service or state/local tax agencies?
• Have you bought a new home in the previous year?
• Are there any major home improvements made in your home in the previous year?
• Are you incurring any childcare or dependents care expenses?
• Do you own a second residence or any other real estate?
• Did you relocate because of a job?
• Did you have a cancelled non-residential debt?
• Did you make a large purchase, like an automobile?
• Did you serve in the military and if so, did you receive combat pay?

These questions could have answers that add to your tax bill and save you money later.