Patty Manzi’s Tri-Valley Real Estate Blog

The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act makes early tax planning increasingly important. The number and complexity of the changes has prompted the IRS to release educational e-mails, videos, podcasts and other tools on a regular basis since the ARRA became law in February 2009.

“With so many credits requiring you to act before a certain date, do your tax planning now to determine where your money will be best spent over the coming months,” says Jessi Dolmage, spokeswoman for 2nd Story Software, Inc., makers of TaxACT. She also recommends the following steps:

1. Preview your tax situation using TaxACT 2009 Free Federal Edition. It will walk you through the ARRA credits and deductions, giving a more complete preview of your return. TaxACT releases preview versions of its software every October for use until final versions are released in January (any data entered into preview will transfer to final). Start your free federal return at http://www.taxact.com/

2. Review your federal withholding. TaxACT offers a Making Work Pay Calculator that will estimate how much the credit is worth to you.

3. Compile receipts and documentation for purchases that will result in credits.

4. Visit www.IRS.gov to review all of the ARRA provisions. TaxACT also has an ARRA site at http://www.taxact.com/recovery.