BEFORE FILING

Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you file:
· Did You Take the Right Charitable
Donations Deductions? It used to be that up to $250 in contributions could be claimed as a deduction without a receipt. However, starting in 2008, the IRS requires that filers provide receipts for all cash donations, even that $5 you gave to the Salvation Army bell ringer over the holidays.
· Did You Report All Your Income? If you
earned some extra cash from freelancing, just because you didn't get a 1099 form doesn't mean you're off the hook.
· Did You Take the Right Meals &
Entertainment Deductions? If you took a client out to dinner and discussed business immediately before, after or during your meal, then generally, 50 percent of the bill is tax-deductible. But you must have a receipt for expenses of $75 or more, containing the name of the restaurant, location, the amount paid the person you were with and the business discussion that occurred.
· Did You Take the Right Business Travel
Deductions? If you traveled within the U.S. for business, you may deduct 100 percent of the cost of getting and staying there (airfare, rental car or taxi, hotel). Personal expenses -- say, a ticket to a museum -- are not deductible.
· Did You Take the Right Home Office
Deductions? Just because you do a little work in your home doesn't mean you can take a home office deduction. In fact, most people don't qualify for this deduction because they need to use the space regularly and exclusively for business. If you use the home-office computer for personal matters, the home-office deduction is disallowed.