It's time to file

It's that time again: tax filing season! The IRS officially opens the e-filing gates this week, and most of your tax documents will be available by Friday. In honor of these exciting times, here are my top tips for a smooth tax season:

• Make sure you have all of your tax documents

  This is obviously the big one. The first thing the IRS does after you file your return is compare the income to all of the income that was reported on W-2s and 1099s; if there's a discrepancy, it's a guaranteed letter (usually with a balance due!) from the IRS. If your tax preparer doesn't have all the documents, it's impossible to prepare a complete and accurate return.

• Provide everything at one time

  Try to give all of your information to your tax preparer at the same time. If you send your documents in drips and drabs as you receive them, it's more likely that something will be missed. We are human, after all, and it's difficult to keep track of an individual document that comes in with a quick note. Of course, sometimes it can't be helped, but if you send each document as you receive it, your preparer may decide to put your return to the side until it seems like everything has been provided.

• Tell your tax preparer about everything that might be important or relevant

  Maybe your Aunt Mae passed away last summer, and after you helped sell her house, you got a portion of the proceeds. Or you started a little side gig with a friend, but it's not making any money. These types of situations might not seem important, but it could end up causing a headache later if you don't mention it to your tax preparer. Most of us have a place to leave a note at the end of our annual questionnaire (sometimes called an "organizer") so that you can mention anything that didn't fit into the rest of the questions. It could also be helpful in case it will affect your taxes the following year, in which case planning can be done before the next tax bill comes.

• Respond thoroughly to any questions your tax preparer asks

  I know that we can be awfully nitpicky; sometimes we ask questions that make you scratch your head or want to pull your hair out. The reason we do that is because it matters. We don't have time to email you for fun, and we certainly aren't trying to annoy you. If we ask you a question, trust me that we need the answer. And please have patience if we ask a question that you've already answered elsewhere! We are only human, and can miss or forget things. We greatly appreciate your understanding with this kind of thing.

• Follow up with your tax preparer if you have questions

  Don't be shy to ask us questions! Did we forget something? Is there a new tax form you don't understand? Is there a typo, misspelling, or incorrect number? Please tell us! If you reach out with a concern, we're always happy to either correct the return or explain why we think it's correct.

• Read through your entire tax return before signing the e-file form

  Please, please, please review your return thoroughly before you sign the e-file form! Once we receive that signed 8879, we assume that you've looked over the forms and the return is ready to file, which we'll do as quickly as possible. If you realize after you sign the e-file form that there's an error, you might need to file an amended return. Sometimes that only means additional time and/or costs for you, but since an IRS employee reviews amended returns (yes, a person looks at every amended return), it could also mean opening a whole can of worms. That is definitely the opposite of a smooth filing season!

I hope this helps you have a stress-free tax return filing process!