GET ORGANIZED

“It’s the most important thing,” says Marissa Verskin, tax partner at Crowe Soberman, a Canadian public accounting firm. “Make a file folder for all your slips,” she suggests. “The last thing you want is for something to slip away and you miss out on a deduction.”

SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP

Many tax preparers will share a tax questionnaire and/or a checklist that will help you through the process. Verskin says Crowe Soberman’s questionnaire asks key questions about life events that may have occurred during the previous year. For example, if you got divorced, sold a home or had a child, your tax situation will be affected, and you’ll need to collect certain documents to indicate those changes.

If your income qualifies as modest and your return is fairly simple, consider visiting a free tax clinic in your area to get assistance in preparing your return.