Once a year, businesses and those who are self-employed are required to file their tax returns. And like clockwork, once a year, taxes are incorrectly submitted, numbers are skewed, and figures are often wrong. You must calculate your taxes properly, lest you incur fines. If you do struggle with calculating your taxes, or have never done them before, then you have visited the right page. We hope that by the end of this page that you will know exactly how to calculate your taxes, as well as having a few tips and tricks to make it easier next time around.

In this article, as you may have guessed, we are going to tell you six smart tips for you to easily calculate your taxes. The consequences of improperly submitting your taxes can be devastating, and depending on the severity, can result in fines, arrest, and even imprisonment.

Here are six smart tips to help you easily calculate your taxes.

1. Software

Using software to calculate your taxes is the most tried and tested method of tax calculation in the 21st-century. Most people with experience in filing their taxes highly recommend using the software. Not only can you ensure that you have everything done properly, but according to the tax specialists from Keeper Tax, you will also be able to calculate potential exemptions and make savings, which you may not otherwise have the knowledge to do. Our first recommendation is definitely for you to use software to calculate your taxes.

2. Dates

If you want to calculate your taxes and have everything done on time, then you need to know your tax dates. Dates differ from country to country, so I am afraid that I cannot give you any specific dates in this article. What I will say, though, is that you should, immediately after reading this, go onto your governmental tax page and establish which dates apply to you so that you can ensure you do not miss any deadlines. Missed deadlines incur fines and penalties, which you will likely want to avoid, especially with a global recession looming.

3. Expertise

Another way to calculate your taxes effectively is to speak to an expert in taxes and have them help you. This is, second only to software, very effective. With that said, having a private tax expert looking into your taxes can be very expensive, which is why most people do not do it. If you can afford your own accountant or tax advisor, though, then you could give it a go. This option is best suited to very busy business professionals who do not have the time to trawl through their own taxes.

4. Tax Manual

Your government or local authority will have a manual on their official website which will take you through the tax self-assessment process. If you have absolutely no idea how to move forward with calculating your taxes, you should read this page. These tax manuals contain a lot of important information, so you must read them, even if you intend on hiring a tax specialist, or downloading software. The knowledge provided by these manuals is basic reading material, in that you will have to know all of it to proceed with either a tax specialist or a software program.

5. Reductions

When you are calculating your tax, you will want to reduce the amount you are paying by as much as you can. If you are self-employed, you are entitled to a number of different tax exemptions and write-offs. If you use these write-offs and reductions effectively, you may be able to reduce the amount of tax that you are due to pay by up to half, sometimes more. Give reductions serious thought and carefully research what exemptions you may be entitled to so that you can take advantage of them when you are filling out your tax return.

6. Speak to Your Tax Office

Finally, if you are struggling, speak to your governmental tax department. They are the best people to speak to for advice. In some cases, they offer payment plans if you are struggling to pay back your taxes. Generally, if you get into contact with them, they will be able to answer any queries or problems that you have and will be able to help you get back onto the right path. Speaking to your government’s tax department, while daunting, is the best way to proceed with any problems that you may have and they can answer virtually anything (relating to tax, not the meaning of life, of course!)

In this article, we hope to have offered you six ways for you to calculate your taxes, or to approach any problems you may be having with your taxes. We hope that you have enjoyed this page and have found it informative. Thank you for reading!