Feature Articles: Taxes
Recordkeeping for Taxes
Reviewed and used with special permission from the IRS by: Brenda Procter, M.S., State Specialist & Instructor Personal Financial Planning, University of Missouri Extension
You can avoid headaches at tax time by keeping track of
your receipts and other records throughout the year, the
IRS advises. Good recordkeeping will help you remember
the various transactions you made during the year, which
may help you out on your taxes.
Records help you document the deductions you’ve claimed on your return.
You’ll need this documentation, should the IRS select
your return for examination. Normally, tax records
should be kept for three years, but some documents
records relating to a home purchase or sale, stock
transactions, IRA and business or rental property should
be kept longer.
In most cases, the IRS does not require you to keep records in any
special manner. Generally speaking, however, you should
keep any and all documents that may have an impact on
your federal tax return. Such items would include bills,
credit card and other receipts, invoices, mileage logs,
canceled checks, or any other proof of payment, and any
other records to support any deductions or credits you
claim on your return.
Good recordkeeping throughout the year saves you time and effort at tax
time when organizing and completing your return. If you
hire a paid professional to complete your return, the
records you have kept will assist the preparer in
quickly and accurately completing your return.
For more information on what kinds of records to keep, see Publication 552, Recordkeeping for Individuals, and Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax for Individuals. Both are available on the IRS Web site, www.irs.gov, or by calling toll-free
1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).
Source: IRS TAX TIP 2005-08
 |
Site Administrator: |
|
|
|
Last update: Saturday, March 22, 2008
