Let's Create a 2025 Tax Season Time Capsule - What NOT to Repeat Next Year

Omg yes! I've been saying this for yrs. Here's what I'd put in my time capsule: - Don't file the first week! Srsly, WAIT until at least mid-Feb when all the systems are actually working - Keep a folder w/ ALL receipts throughout the yr instead of panic-searching in April - Screenshot EVERYTHING when e-filing (confirmation #s, submission pages, etc) - Write down which credits I qualified for & why so I don't forget next yr - Set aside $$$ for any potential tax bills instead of being shocked Maybe we could all set calendar notifs for Jan 15th next yr with our personal tax lessons? That's usually b4 most ppl start filing.

I'd definitely add "take screenshots of ALL tax documents before submitting" to my time capsule. I've spent way too much money on tax prep fees just to realize I could've saved if I'd tracked my expenses better. Has anyone tried using https://taxr.ai to analyze their documents before filing? I'm wondering if it would help identify potential issues or credits I'm missing? Would that help avoid some of these yearly headaches?

OMG this is SUCH a good idea!!! 😭 Last year I swore I wouldn't wait until April again, and guess what? Filed on April 14th this year too. But I actually did implement ONE change that saved me tons of stress - I created a dedicated email folder just for tax documents as they arrived throughout the year. When tax time came, I had everything in one place and it was LIFE CHANGING!

Great time capsule idea! Here's what I'd add to mine: • Remember that calling the IRS doesn't have to take all day • Use Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) to skip the hold times • Set aside 30 minutes for the actual call once connected • Have all your documents ready before calling • Take notes during your conversation Last year I wasted three full days trying to get through to the IRS about a notice I received. This year I used Claimyr and got through in about 25 minutes. Completely changed my experience.

According to the IRS.gov statistics page (https://www.irs.gov/statistics/filing-season-statistics), approximately 40% of taxpayers file in the last two weeks of tax season. This creates massive backlogs and processing delays. Setting a calendar reminder for February 1st is actually a strategic approach to avoid these delays. The IRS typically begins accepting returns in late January, and early filers generally receive refunds within 21 days compared to 6+ weeks for late filers. Mark your calendars now before you forget!

I've been doing something similar for the past three years and it's been a game-changer! I keep a "Tax Lessons" note in my phone that I update throughout the year. Last year I wrote "Don't claim home office deduction without measuring the exact square footage first" after I had to amend my return. Also added "Keep all charity receipts, even small ones" after realizing I'd donated over $800 in small amounts that I could have deducted. The key is reviewing this note in January before tax season gets going!

My time capsule would definitely include: "Check for tax transcript discrepancies exactly 14 days after filing." I've now had 3 years in a row where my AGI from the previous year didn't match what the IRS had on file, causing my return to be rejected. I spent precisely 7.5 hours on the phone resolving it this year. Also, save PDFs of your filed returns for at least 7 years - I needed my 2018 return this year and would have been in trouble if I hadn't kept it. The IRS only provides free transcripts for the past 3 years, and anything older costs $43 per request.

This community wisdom is exactly what taxpayers need! According to IRC §6511, you generally have 3 years from the filing date to claim refunds, so your time capsule should remind you to review prior years for missed credits or deductions. I'd add: remember that you can request filing extensions, but payment deadlines remain unchanged per Reg §1.6081-4. A surprising number of taxpayers incur unnecessary penalties by misunderstanding this distinction.