Looking for tax advice? To begin with, file early! Read on ...

When you think of tax advice, you probably think first of that tax professional. They have all the answers, right? They have the answers, but you have the documentation. When you consider that tax professionals attend seminars throughout the year, to keep them abreast of the latest tax laws and changes from the previous year, it's only logical that you don't stand the chance of the proverbial snowball in knowing what you need to make a proper tax filing. The current tax laws occupy a full sixty feet of book shelf space, written in language the average taxpayer cannot comprehend.

Even if you use a professional tax preparation service, you've still got to gather up all those receipts. You think you've got every piece of documentation to get the job done, only to arrive at the tax accountant's office and find you don't have the data to fill out one of the hundreds of schedules that might pertain to your tax filing situation. Here you thought it would all be over in a single visit! Ha! Back to the drawing board, searching through your files for some obscure, but required document that will allow you to finish the task. Another appointment must be made and more time is wasted.

Maybe it's the crowd I hang with, but I have never met a person who enjoyed preparing their tax return. This is why (trying) to file your taxes early is a good piece of tax advice. If you put off from day to day, you might run out of time and be required to file for an extension on your tax return.

If you opt for online or tax software preparation services, be aware that they're not failsafe. Be sure to read the fine print. They use the data you supply and if you don't have all the required data, your tax return may be rejected, delayed or denied. Nightmare city!

Here's some tax advice that may surprise you. If you think your records may be incomplete or just suspect it won't pass muster due to some lack of knowledge on your part, the 800 number to the IRS tax information line may clear it all up – at least in terms of missing tax schedules or persnickety points on line numbers and the like. When you get tax advice from the IRS information line, be sure to note their IRS employee number as backup, noting the date and time of your conversation. When you talk to an IRS representative, be sure you know which forms and schedules you need to complete your tax return. All are freely available at the IRS site in their tax forms online page.

Looking for tax advice? Believe me, when it comes to tax advice you need all the help you can get to turn in an accurate tax return. Starting early is the secret! Filing as early as possible is the best tax advice you'll find. Ask the pros and you'll find they agree.