We're all used to getting our taxes in by April 15th, but note that this year that date falls on a Sunday. That following Monday is a holiday over in

Washington D.C. (what the heck is Emancipation Day?), so we have until Tuesday, April 17th this year.

All it takes is one manila folder in your house to keep all your finances in one place. You can go above and beyond and label, but just having them

together will help save so much time, come tax season.

If you're going to tackle this on your own, by mail, then it's likely you're going to need a 1040EZ form, which you can get at post offices. They're typically

in the lobby. Other than that, just have those W-2s or 1099-MISCs ready to go.

Those who've never filed can get overwhelmed by the idea of filing and making a mistake that lands them in a bad place with the IRS. While it may seem

daunting, it's really not. Ask your family for help, or go to their tax person. Every family typically has that one person they trust with their taxes every year.

Often times places that do tax prep for free want to see your taxes from the previous year. In all honesty, you shouldn't just have last year's on hand, but

your taxes for the previous three years. Have them up in a closet somewhere just in case. They don't put them in that nice envelope for nothing.

If you want to get in and out of a tax prep place, then it's important to make an appointment. That's not to say that you'll be seen in a

timely manner depending on where you live (bigger cities, ugh!), but it will guarantee you're seen that day so you can get it over and done.

Many places offer free tax prep for low-income residents. In California, for example, there's the VITA program. They are set up all around a city at libraries, rec

centers, universities, and elsewhere. You can easily find a program like that in your area.

Even if you don't meet the requirements to use a free in-person tax prep site, you can always file online for free. See more details about that here.

Filing online? Make sure to double-check everything before sending. It's just like in school on a test, but this test is way more important because it involves your money.

We've all seen the commercials about how easy it is to file online, but if you're the type that constantly forgets to lock your front door every morning, this may

not be the best route. It never hurts to reach out for help from someone who knows their way around a tax form.

The IRS doesn't even take your taxes until mid-January. So don't think you're behind until it's April 1st.

Whether you go to a free tax prep place or somewhere like H&R Block, it's important that you just don't sit there quietly. You'll never learn that way. Ask any

and all questions so that if you did do something wrong this year, you can make sure to avoid that mistake next year.

Independent contractors can have as many as a dozens of gigs within a year. That is gonna seem like a lot to deal with when tax time comes, but if

any of those jobs paid less than $600, you don't have to note them when it comes time to file.

If you are grown up and made more than $10,400, then you better start prepping because you need to file. If you're still young enough to be claimed as a

dependent but earned more than $6,350 then you need to file. If you don't hit these marks, you can skip tax season!

Don't worry about this. If you lose your W-2, you can always reach out to that employer to resend it. If they fail to get a replacement to you by

the end of February, you're going to have to take action and contact the IRS.

Keeping a smile on your face will help relieve some of the stress that all of this can cause.

This goes without saying but don't wait until the night before to gather your things and file.

You don't want to go through the whole process of having someone prepare your taxes only to find out you owe them more than the government owes you.

Marriage is a business deal with an expensive party. It is also a total bummer when it comes to taxes if one of you isn't as financially stable as the

rest. What's theirs is yours and what's yours is theirs—and that includes debt. So go ahead and fall in love, but save marriage for another year if it's going to

ruin your financial state.

Say you were engaged in February but married in December, so your W-2 says single. You're should file as a married person because it is based on what your status

was on the last day of that tax year, not what was on your form at the start.

If you work a typical 9 to 5, sorry. You cannot deduct your mileage to and from the office. That's bad news for those people but good news for freelancers!

You can claim 53.5 cents per mile whenever you drove to meet a client over the past year. Hope you saved those numbers!

Did you know that freelancers could write off travel expenses? I'm legit upset that I was unaware of this. So say you had to actually travel for work,

as long as the days you spent working exceed the days you didn't...you could deduct airfare and other travel expenses. Just note that you can't deduct entertainment expenses from those

extra days.

If you're a US citizen and living abroad, you are more than likely going to have to file the same way as if you still lived Stateside.

If you had a great year and were able to donate more than $250 to a charity, make sure you have it in writing so you can deduct

it.

Independent contractors can deduct many things, but they have to have receipts and paper documentation. This also comes in handy if the government wants to question and audit

you later.

For those who aren't in total financial distress and are actually filing with a decent chunk of change in the bank — yet don't want to pay for it —

note that owning real estate can come in handy. You can always deduct mortgages. So yeah, this isn't really something us millennials need to worry about as we're

still renting.

Saving is always a great idea, but saving when you're a freelancer is vital. Try to save 5-20% of everything you take in throughout the year. So when tax time

comes, if you wind up owing, you can write that check without all the sweat.

So having a piggy bank labeled "Retirement FUNd" isn't the best way to save for the future? Damn. Okay, so in that case, set yourself up an IRA, otherwise known

as an Individual Retirement Account. Having one can help with saving on your taxes in different ways, depending on which kind you set up.

Paying off your student loans, on time, will prove to be helpful. Companies like Navient will send you a tax document in January for your files. Take that

when you prepare.

We all love our fur babies...but we cannot claim them. Dependents are your kids until they hit 19, or until they're 24 if they're in college. You also have to

factor in how much they made. If they made too much, then nope — they are their own person now and have to file as such.

Small business owners can be insanely stressed during tax season because often times they are their own accountant. They can avoid all of that stress by digitizing any and all

receipts so that they're easier to navigate later.

Moving across the country to live out your dream as an actor won't cut it but if you moved for a legit job than you can deduct those costs.

Report all your earnings. You don't want to run for office one day, be questioned about your taxes, and then refuse to show them because you know you straight up

lied once upon a time.

Back in the early '60s, doctors claimed that the clarinet helped with overbites. So if you or your kid is getting clarinet lessons, you can write that off

as a medical expense.

I know, I know. Nobody knows or cares about the routing number associated with their bank account. That is until someone wants to direct deposit monies into their account! Make

sure to have that routing number on hand when you file so you don't have to wait around for a check to come in the mail.

Even if you think you're going to make bank when it comes to your tax refund, do not go on a shopping spree until you're 100% sure and the money

is in the bank.

If you e-file, you should get your refund within three weeks. Those who mail theirs in, you'll be waiting six to eight weeks due to processing. Just be patient though

and be happy if you're getting anything back. Also, don't go thinking you're never going to get it.

Say you dropped the ball and didn't listen to anything we just said and don't get things done by April 17th. That's okay. Don't panic. File an extension to get

that extra six months. 

Really though, don't. Just get on the ball now.

Even if you file for an extension, you still have to pay taxes by Tax Day in April. That is, of course, you are going to owe anything. So you'll

have to pay an estimate to avoid penalties. Doesn't that sound way harder than just filing on time?

If you wind up owing anything, make sure to hit up a mailbox and pay as soon as you can. The last bill collector you want to deal with is

the IRS.

If you were a hot mess filing this year, make sure to clean up your act for next time. Save receipts, get organized, note deductions, and rock it next year.