Last-minute tax reminders for 2026
Run from it, hide from it, and it will find you just the same: Tax season is here.
You may have already finished filing your return by the time you read this message. If so, good for you! But if you haven’t, here are a few simple, last-minute tips to make the filing process easier and more efficient.
1. Get organized. Have you ever heard the phrase mise en place? It’s a French term chefs use that means “putting in place.” You see, a good chef ensures that all ingredients and equipment are set up and in place before they start cooking. This type of mindset is invaluable. It reduces mistakes and accidents and makes the entire cooking process less stressful!
You can practice mise en place with your taxes as well. Before you do anything else, gather every receipt, invoice, and piece of data that may relate to your taxes. Have it organized and close to hand. That way, when you start the actual filing process, you never have to interrupt your progress to look for something. Nor will you be likely to forget anything important. It just makes the entire affair easier, quicker, and less stressful. Specifically, be sure to have:
- Social Security numbers/individual tax ID numbers for everyone listed on your tax return.
- Bank account, routing numbers, and current address.
- Any W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, and records of digital asset transactions.
- Any documents or invoices from side jobs and self-employment.
- Any documents for credits or deductions. (Like childcare expenses, donations, property tax records, healthcare expenses, retirement contributions, etc.)
- Any notices from the IRS citing an amount received for a certain tax deduction or credit.
2. Remember to report all types of income. In the rush to file, it can be easy to forget all the various ways you generated income last year. These days, many people have second jobs and side hustles that bring in money. Then there’s investment income, property, and even yard sales to consider! So, as you file, remember to report all income from:
- Any goods or items you have sold, whether online or in person
- Investments
- Part-time, seasonal, or gig work
- Rental properties
- Self-employment or other business activities
- Foreign accounts and assets
This will help you avoid any notices or bills from the IRS – something no one wants!
3. Contribute to your IRA if you haven’t already done so. If you haven’t contributed to an IRA in the last year, there’s still time to do so. The deadline to contribute for the 2025 tax year is April 15, 2026. (Remember that if you do decide to contribute, you must designate the year you are contributing for.) For 2025, the maximum amount you can contribute is $7,000 if you’re under 50, and $8,000 if you are age 50 or older.1
4. Get a written acknowledgement from charitable organizations you have contributed to. If you gifted $250 or more to any charitable organization last year, the recipient must send you a written acknowledgement of the gift upon request.2 This should also state whether the recipient provided any goods or services in consideration for the contribution. (If so, the acknowledgement must include a good-faith estimate of the value of those goods or services.)
5. Tell the IRS to direct deposit your refund to get it faster. These days, eight out of ten taxpayers get their refunds via direct deposit.3 There’s a good reason for this – it’s the fastest and most secure method available! The IRS issues nine out of ten refunds in less than 21 days, but getting your refund via check adds unnecessary time to the process.3
Many people are unaware that they can have their refund deposited directly into up to three different accounts. That’s handy because it can help you allocate funds more effectively. For example, let’s say you want to use part of your refund to pay off a debt, another part to go into your rainy-day fund, and the leftovers to go on vacation. With direct deposit, you can ensure all three boxes get checked. Just have the refund portioned into the appropriate accounts!
Finally, you can track the status of your refund using the IRS’s Where’s My Refund Tool. You can find that here: https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund
We hope you found this helpful. Wishing you a smooth, stress-free tax season!
1 “IRA Contribution Limits,” IRS, https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-ira-contribution-limits
2 “Charitable contributions: Written acknowledgements,” Internal Revenue Service, https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/charitable-contributions-written-acknowledgments
3 “Get Your Refund Faster,” IRS, www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts
