Every year, it can pay off to get organized and gather your tax documents early, both because you’re likely to receive your tax refund sooner and you’ll avoid the stress of scrambling at the last minute.
This is important because the Internal Revenue Service has been particularly slow in recent years, according to Dan Johnson, professor of economics and business at Colorado College.
“The IRS is clearly understaffed this year,” Johnson says, adding, “I would expect delays across the board.”
To help you get a leg up on tax prep, whether you’re tapping a tax professional to prepare your return or doing it yourself, here’s all the information and documents you’ll need to gather.