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    Start Planning for a Happier Tax Day in 2012

    By | Work + Money – Wed, Apr 13, 2011 4:15 PM EDT

    Taxes: Start Planning Now for Next YearTaxes: Start Planning Now for Next YearBy: Benjamin Gran

    Tax Day is April 18 this year - a date that most Americans look forward to about as much as getting a root canal. For too many Americans, the annual tax filing deadline is a flurry of stress, disorganization and anxiety. Whether you stay up until 2 a.m. tracking down receipts or dread the thought of having to write a check to the IRS to cover additional taxes owed, Tax Day is not fun.

    But the truth is, while Tax Day is never "the most wonderful time of the year," it doesn't have to be worst day of your life, either.

    Here are some ideas to help make next year's Tax Day better. You can start today to make for a happier Tax Day in 2012:

    Save your receipts all year long to prove you're eligible for tax deductions.

    If you can't prove you made a charitable donation or incurred a business expense, you can't claim it on your taxes. As far as the IRS is concerned, if you can't document your tax deduction, it doesn't exist. This is especially important for small business owners.

    Get your paperwork in order.

    Having a happy Tax Day is not about making a last-minute rush through your paperwork - you want to have all of your tax documents in order, in one place, easy to find and easy to sort through. Have a system: use envelopes and keep it all in a shoebox, or create a dedicated drawer of the file cabinet. The key is to stay organized all year long so you're not scrambling at the last minute on April 14 (Tax Day is typically April 15).

    Go paperless.

    Tired of relying on paper documents to manage your taxes? You can scan your tax-related documents and save them on your computer. (Be sure to back up your files so that nothing gets lost in the event of a hard drive crash.)

    Make a "tax day time capsule."

    This year, as you're filling out your return, take notes about which parts of the process were most difficult. Which tax forms were most complicated? Which business expenses do you most need to remember to keep better track of for next year? What were the problem areas on this year's taxes that you want to do better/differently next year? Compose a note to yourself - with examples, copies of receipts and anything else to help jog your memory - and put it with your tax documents for next year.

    Withhold additional taxes from your paycheck.

    It's no fun having to write a big check to the IRS after a long year of work. Even though paying taxes is a "good problem to have," it often feels discouraging to have to dig deep for a few hundred dollars (or more) to send to the IRS. If you hate to write checks to the IRS, consider boosting your tax withholdings. It's easy to fill out a new W4 withholding form at work that will allow you to pay extra taxes all year long - and then be owed a refund at tax time. Even an extra $50 a month can make a difference - that's $600 a year in "forced savings," much of which might come back to you in the form of a tax refund.

    It's true that getting a tax refund is not as financially beneficial as having put that money in an interest-earning savings account, but savings account interest rates are really low right now anyway - and there can be a psychological benefit to knowing that on Tax Day, the government will owe you money instead of the other way around.

    Get help.

    If Tax Day is a constant source of stress and frustration, you might be better off hiring a tax professional to help you do your taxes. It's never too early to start shopping around for an accountant and/or tax attorney who can help you. Ask your friends for references - you might be surprised how affordable it can be to have a tax pro handle your tax return. For just a few hundred dollars, you can get peace of mind, expert advice and maybe even some extra cash back in your refund.

    If you take our advice on planning ahead for less stress in filing your taxes, you might find that next year, you'll be saying "Happy Tax Day!"

    No matter what tax bracket you're in, Quizzle.com offers great tools and resources to help you manage your personal finances, get out of debt faster and make better financial decisions for a happier Tax Day and a more secure financial life.

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