What's A Tax Plan - How To Start A Tax Plan Ahead Of Tax Season

A tax plan is a simple year-round system for tracking income, deductions and documents, so filing takes hours instead of weeks. It also helps you spot savings before the year ends, while you can still act.

By the James Family Tax team

Taxes might not be on your mind the majority of the year, but the tax deadline comes around every year like clockwork, and making time to prepare and file your taxes is unavoidable.

How how can you save time on your taxes and get the best tax outcome?

At James Family Tax, we believe saving time on your taxes and getting the best tax outcome starts with having a Tax Plan.

What’s a Tax Plan?

A tax plan is a plan you implement throughout the year that focuses on keeping your tax documents and record keeping in order. A tax plan allows you to maximize deductions & tax credits when it’s time to file your taxes. It also saves you time so that you can focus on what matters to you.

How much time do tax filers spend preparing their taxes?

The IRS estimates the average amount of time that individuals spend preparing their taxes is between 8 and 24 hours. These times can vary depending on how complex your tax return is. And just like your family or business, each tax return is unique so keep this in mind when determining how long it might take you or your business to file your annual tax return.

Non- Business Tax Filers spend an average of 8 hours preparing their tax return, with 3 hours dedicated to record keeping.
Business Tax Filers spend an average of 24 hours preparing their taxes, with 13 hours dedicated to record keeping.

That’s a lot of time!

And we believe that your time is essential.

A tax plan will save you time and ensure your time is used purposefully. You can start a plan today!

Three ways to start your Tax Plan today :

1. Keep your tax documents in a central location.

It’s easy to misplace tax documents throughout the year. Often tax documents get overlooked, or you think I’ll file this later, but… it never happens.

A James Family Tax Tip is to take pictures of your tax documents with your smartphone and save them to a folder on your phone or computer. (You can also e-mail them to yourself to get an extra copy.)

This simple step will save you time during tax preparation because you won’t spend thirty minutes here and there looking for all the missing paperwork.

For your convenience, if you plan to file your taxes with James Family Tax, we offer a safe, secure place to upload your tax documents .

Keep complete and accurate tax records throughout the year.

It’s time to get those tax receipts out of the junk drawer; I know… they fit so well in there, but for your tax prep sanity, they must come out.

Record keeping can seem overwhelming in the beginning, but it’s essential.

A James Family Tax Tip is to use a program like QuickBooks to record your receipts, charitable contributions, invoices, and payments. Also, keep track of your oil changes and mileage if you travel for work. There are a lot of record-keeping programs on the market, so we recommend you find one that is user-friendly and works best for you.

Whether you prepare your taxes yourself or hire a professional to help, keeping complete and accurate tax records throughout the year will save you time and money and keep you safe in case of an audit.

3. Hire a professional.

A tax professional will take a look into your personal tax situation and help you come up with a tax plan that works for you and your family.

If you don’t know if a tax professional is right for you, ask yourself these questions.

How highly do I value my time?
How complex are my taxes?
How much record keeping/ bookkeeping do I need throughout the year?

A James Family Tax Tip is that when hiring a tax professional, you should be sure that they are honest and transparent with their services. Your time is valuable, and no matter how simple or complex your tax return is, you deserve a tax experience that leaves you feeling confident.

Check out our blog on choosing the correct tax professional and why you need one: /blog/f/how-to-choose-a-tax-professional-why-you-need-one.

Remember, At James Family Tax, We’re Here For You!

At James Family Tax we’re San Antonio local tax professionals who take a holistic approach to your tax needs.

There isn’t one San Antonio family or San Antonio small business that’s the same which means there isn’t one tax situation that’s the same.

We take our time in getting to know you and in understanding your unique tax situation so that we can serve you well.

For your convenience, we offer individual and business tax consultations online and in person.

You can make your appointment today at

The James Family Tax Team is here to help you with your taxes & tax planning! We would love to help you come up with a tax plan that fits your individual circumstance.

We know that taxes can be stressful & we understand that life is busy! It’s our goal to make sure that tax filing is a success for you.

If you’re looking for a Local San Antonio Tax Professional, we would love to be a part of your team!

Are you looking for a local San Antonio Tax Preparer?

James Family Tax is a full-service tax preparation firm. We specialize in helping individuals, families, and small businesses with their taxes!

We’re proud to be one of the best-rated tax services in San Antonio and would love for you to check out our google reviews!

Connect with us today on Facebook & IG @Jamesfamilytax

Do you need to file your taxes?

You can make your appointment today at

Want to learn more about us? Check out our website today!

jamesfamilytax.com

Schedule your appointment today RIGHT HERE!

How James Family Tax Can Help

Want a plan, not just a return? Our tax strategy and advisory services help you make smart moves before the year ends.

Book an appointment at our San Antonio or Schertz office, or call (210) 864-1788.