Keeping Documents Secure Yet Accessible (NAPSA)—Whether you prepare your own returns or have someone else do them, you can make tax season little less taxing by getting organized. Make Use Of Your Resources Utilize the Internet’s free services. There are countless articles on organization as well as free downloadable tax organizers that will guide you through the begin- ning stages of preparing tax papers. Also, there is a wealth of information on the IRS Website. While gathering all the documents necessaryto file tax work, make notes of which steps are the most time consuming. Pay close attention to organizing those areas to makefiling next year a breeze. Copy And Secure As soon as your paperwork is prepared and readyto be filed, make a copy along with all the supporting documentation. According to the IRS, most records only need to be kept for three years, but some documents (such as records relating to a home purchase or sale and stock transactions) should be kept longer. After copies have been made, place all documents in a central location that is safe and secure, such as a fire-resistant security safe or filing chest. For example, the SentrySafe HD4100 allows consumers to keep hangingfiles neatly organized and accessible while protecting important information from floods, fires and prying eyes. Plus, the purchaseprice is tax deductible. Moving Forward To prevent tax organization from being an annualchore, start by designating a placeto putbills, receipts and other vital documents. Then, once a month, go through papers, A fire-resistant, waterproof safe can be an effective way to protect legal papers and tax records while keeping them readily accessible. pay thebills and file the rest. At year’s end, take out what you need and throw away everythingelse. Keep important family documents (birth and marriagecertificates, Social Security cards, insurancepolicies, etc.) in a safety-deposit box or a fire-resistant safe. A fire-resistant SentrySafe will secure these documents, especially in the case offire and/or water damage. Finally, create a family binder for papers that you use regularly— take-out menus, season passes to museums or sports games, frequently used phone numbers, etc.—and keep the binder in an easily accessible place. For more tax-time tips, visit www.irs.gov. SentrySafe products are available in-store or online at Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, Sam’s Club, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Office Depot, Staples, Sears and more. For additional information, visit www.sentrysafe.com.
