While the 2016 tax filing deadline is still months away, taking some time to prepare early can help you ensure that you get every credit you qualify for and minimize your liability. Linda M. Shiraiwa CPA, PS Inc., an accountant providing tax return services to businesses and individuals throughout Gig Harbor, WA, recommends taking a few steps to get the year started off right.

To make filing your taxes as easy as possible, they suggest:

• Keeping Statements Together: Most people will begin receiving wage and earning statements as early as January, which makes them easy to misplace. Filing them together as soon as they arrive will help you avoid losing important documents, which might cause you to miss deadlines or file an inaccurate return. You may find it helpful to keep a list of documents you expect to receive in the file and check them off as they arrive.
• Collecting Your Receipts: In the hurry to meet filing deadlines, many taxpayers forget purchases that could have allowed them to take sizable deductions. Think carefully over your 2016 purchases and start collecting receipts for anything that might be deductible, including home improvement costs, business travel expenses, and health care expenditures.
• Hiring a Professional: During tax season, tax return services professionals are in extremely high demand. Getting an appointment may be much more difficult in April, and the accountant will have less time for each individual client. However, earlier in the year, they'll be able to review your finances, recommend deductions for which you might qualify, and help make sure everything is ready as soon as you have all of your paperwork together.

Linda M. Shiraiwa CPA, PS Inc.'s accounting firm provides highly detailed, professional tax return services to taxpayers throughout the Gig Harbor, area. Whether you're a private individual or a small business owner, they have the expertise and updated knowledge to ensure that your returns are filed accurately and on time. Visit their website to learn more, or call (253) 858-6030 to make an appointment.