Working with a tax professional isn’t just about “filing correctly.” It’s a partnership that helps you save money, avoid mistakes, and plan your finances strategically.

But many clients whether in Monroe, Indian Trail, Matthews, Waxhaw, or anywhere in Union County tend to repeat the same habits: piles of unsorted receipts, last-minute scrambling, or missing key details.

1. Collect Your Documents as They Come In

One of the biggest issues tax pros see every March is clients frantically digging through old envelopes trying to find W-2s and 1099s.

What to do instead:

Create a separate digital folder, something like “Taxes 2024” on your computer, Google Drive, or iCloud. Drop every tax-related document into it as soon as it arrives.

Common forms include:

W-2 for employees
1099-NEC / 1099-MISC for contractors and freelancers
1098 for mortgage interest

The earlier the documents are organized, the less likely you’ll miss an important deduction.

2. Don’t Bring a “Shoebox of Receipts”

Every tax preparer has seen it: a client shows up with a box full of crumpled receipts “just in case.”

This slows everything down and usually increases the cost of preparation.

A better approach:

Sort expenses into categories like: medical, charitable donations, education, business expenses.

If you use QuickBooks, Venmo, Cash App, or your banking app, download the annual expense report as an Excel or PDF file.

Example: Instead of 150 individual donation receipts, create one spreadsheet with totals and attach supporting proof.

3. Have All Personal Information Ready

Every year, clients spend valuable appointment time trying to find a Social Security number or looking up a bank account.

Have these ready beforehand:

SSNs for all family members
dates of birth
bank routing & account numbers for refunds or payments
a copy of your last year’s tax return

These basics keep the process smooth and prevent delays.

4. Stay in Touch With Your Tax Pro Throughout the Year

Many people reach out only in February or March, but tax planning is a year-round process, not a once-a-year event.

Notify your accountant if you:

change jobs or marital status
open a business or start freelancing
buy or sell a home, property, or investments

When your preparer knows about these changes early, they can help you avoid surprises in April.

5. Get Advice Before Signing Major Contracts

Before signing a contract for a business purchase, a new lease, equipment financing, an investment, or contractor agreement let your tax professional look it over.

They can warn you about important tax implications:

certain purchases may be eligible for Section 179 deductions
contract structure can impact capital gains tax
misclassifying a worker can trigger IRS penalties

Fixing mistakes after signing is always more expensive than asking first.

6. Tell Your Tax Pro Immediately If You Receive a Letter From the IRS

IRS letters can look intimidating, but most of them are simply requests for clarification not audits.

Typical example: CP2000 (mismatched income information).

Your steps:

Don’t ignore the letter.
Send a copy to your tax professional right away.
Save the original and any supporting documents.

A knowledgeable preparer knows exactly how to respond and help minimize issues.

Working with a tax professional whether in Monroe, Indian Trail, Waxhaw, Stallings, or the greater Charlotte region is an investment in peace of mind.

When you: