Feeling overwhelmed by the looming tax return deadline? Stress not, for we answered five of your most pressing tax questions below. But if you have a salaried job and receive W-2 income (meaning your employer withholds money from your paycheck) and you rent (so you don’t have any housing deductions), your taxes are pretty basic. So take a stab at figuring them out yourself. That being said, if you wake up in the night freaking out that the IRS is going to come after you, use a tax preparer for peace of mind. Enrolled agents, on the other hand, specialize solely in taxes. Licensed by the IRS, they must demonstrate that they are competent in all areas of taxation. To find someone to take your case, ask your friends or family for recommendations. If they don’t have any, go to the American Institute of CPAs (aicpa.org) or the National Association of Enrolled Agents (naea.org) to find someone locally. Hang on to your returns forever. They don’t take up much space (none, if you save them digitally), and if a lender ever asks to see them, you won’t have to request a copy from the IRS, a process that could take some time.
