Barring any last-minute changes, 1040 returns will be due April 15th.

If you still need to turn in your documents, here are five quick tips to make things easier for your tax preparer:

  1. If a document does not have your name on it, write your name on it! Your preparer is probably receiving a mountain of documents. This can help your tax preparer to quickly identify what file it needs to be assigned to.
  2. Use staples sparingly. Your tax preparer may need to scan, copy or reorder documents, and staples can get caught in the machinery.
  3. Don’t draw or write calculations on government forms. It can be difficult to read the figures when they are drawn in the margins. It is much better to write these on a separate piece of paper, spreadsheet or attached post-it note.
  4. Verify receipt. If you mail your documents and don’t hear back after a reasonable amount of time, it is a good idea to check that the information has actually been received. If you fax your documents, consider requesting a “read receipt” to prove that the fax has gone through.
  5. Provide complete statements. If a broker statement has 16 pages, provide all 16 pages, even if the extra pages are blank or have little information on them. Chances are your tax preparer will ask for these pages anyway, just to make sure they don’t miss anything.

Clergy Financial is still accepting 1040 organizers and documents. If you need to hire a tax preparer for your Clergy taxes, visit https://www.clergyfinancial.com/services/clergy-tax-preparation/ for more details.

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Clergy Financial Resources serves as a resource for clients to help analyze the complexity of clergy tax law, church payroll & HR issues. Our professionals are committed to helping clients stay informed about tax news, developments and trends in various specialty areas.

This article is intended to provide readers with guidance in tax matters. The article does not constitute, and should not be treated as professional advice regarding the use of any particular tax technique. Every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the information. Clergy Financial Resources and the author do not assume responsibility for any individual’s reliance upon the information provided in the article. Readers should independently verify all information before applying it to a particular fact situation, and should independently determine the impact of any particular tax planning technique. If you are seeking legal advice, you are encouraged to consult an attorney.

For more information or if you need additional assistance, please use the contact information below.

Clergy Financial Resources
11214 86th Avenue N.
Maple Grove, MN 55369

Tel: (888) 421-0101 
Fax: (888) 876-5101
Email: clientservices@clergyfinancial.com

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