How do people do their taxes so early?

[disykat]

We were really hoping to do them this weekend, but are still missing one piece of info. Two things came on Friday, including the stuff from our bank.

Are other people's banks and investments just more on top of things than ours?

 

[Green Tea]

Feb 15 was the mailing date for most 1099's. I got them online that day and got the returns finished. I had started earlier.

 

[Scrock]

I've heard of some people filing using their last paycheck stub of the year.

 

[delmar411]

or they just look online at their accounts. You don't need the 1099's in hand to fill in the information required. Esp if it's an account you've had 1099's in the past for.

 

[CastleChick]

we have ours file and already received the refund.

We only have 1 W2 and 2 1099's (available online). DH's W2 came around the 20th of January and I filed online with turbotax and direct deposit.

 

[HelenePA]

I finally filed today. Never have I had to wait this long before all because of one stupid 1099 that was mailed out jan 31 and then reprinted because it never came the first time. Usually we have everything by Jan 20. Refund in hand by the 2nd week of Feb.

 

[rigs32]

Some of us only have one W2. I also have student loan interest, but I pay more than the $2500 limit on that, so no need to wait for the paperwork. Any investments I have are of the retirement variety.

 

[Marionnette]

Some people can less complicated returns, so they only need a few documents before they can do their taxes.

We just got all of our paperwork together for the accountant last week. We had to wait for forms from both universities stating how much we had paid in tuition for the kids last year. Otherwise, all of our documents could have been obtained online.

 

[disykat]

I never really even thought about looking on line for some of this stuff. (Duh!)We don't have on on-line account for the account we're missing. I'll have to see what I can do.

I'm anxious to find out how much we owe, since I'm pretty sure we won't have a refund this year.

 

[msmayor]

I had the whole return finished with my own computations for the 1099 we were waiting for; I just used my monthly statements to come up with the estimates.

When the final form arrived on Tuesday I just made the minor adjustments and sent the return on its way.

 

[meriface11]

I'm waiting on a 1099-R for an IRA rollover. it shouldn't impact our taxes since it's a rollever, think we just need to report it, so i am going to do the taxes tomorrow, leaving out inputting the 1099-R so i have everything ready to go as soon as it comes in.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I compile my tax documents all the year through - receipts for tax deductions, any statements from investments, etc. I make a spreadsheet and keep track of when my husband has Reserve duty and whether we paid for his lodging out-of-pocket or the Army paid for it, where it was and how many miles he commuted. I copy my Dec mortgage statement that shows the amount of interest paid year-to-date and taxes. I copy the last page of my bank statement that shows my YTD interest. In addition to being a Reservist, my husband works Civil Service; both W-2s are available online within the first week of January and I work for a CPA and he does ours pretty quickly also. I do our taxes with the professional software at work (perk of the job!) and I'm usually waiting for the final software update so I can start entering my information!

I would have been able to file around 2/1 this year, if the IRS hadn't said we had to wait till 2/14 to file returns with itemized deductions. My co-worker reviewed it and submitted it Wednesday.

 

[sweetdana]

I mailed my to CPA Thur... I will owe I always do.

If I was getting a refund I bet I'd do it quicker.

I think most 1099 for interest can be printed online with online banking n stuff, but with no refund I wait.

 

[crisi]

Its the number of documents thing. Employers are usually really good, and banks are good with the interest statement, but investments can take a bit.

After having SOMEONE screw up two years in a row so I had to amend, I now just wait.

 

[NYCDiane]

We were really hoping to do them this weekend, but are still missing one piece of info. Two things came on Friday, including the stuff from our bank.

Are other people's banks and investments just more on top of things than ours?

I don't own any property or have any investments so all I have to worry about is my w2 from my job. My job gives them out as early as possible (this year, it was January 15th) and I file online that same night. I had my refund 10 days later.

I know other people who had to wait until February 15th because of some new IRS form that had to do with homeowners.