Six Steps for Preparing Your Return
| 1 | — | Get your records together for income and expenses. |
| 2 | — | Get the forms, schedules, and publications you need. |
| 3 | — | Fill in your return. |
| 4 | — | Check your return to make sure it is correct. |
| 5 | — | Sign and date your return. |
| 6 | — | Attach all required forms and schedules. |
- Your name, address (including ZIP code), and phone number.
- Your SSN.
- Your dates of employment.
- Your employer’s name, address (including ZIP code), and phone number.
You must figure your taxable income on the basis of a tax year. A “tax year” is an annual accounting period used for keeping records and reporting income and expenses. You must account for your income and expenses in a way that clearly shows your taxable income. The way you do this is called an accounting method. This section explains which accounting periods and methods you can use.
Most individual tax returns cover a calendar year—the 12 months from January 1 through December 31. If you do not use a calendar year, your accounting period is a fiscal year. A regular fiscal year is a 12-month period that ends on the last day of any month except December. A 52-53-week fiscal year varies from 52 to 53 weeks and always ends on the same day of the week.
You choose your accounting period (tax year) when you file your first income tax return. It cannot be longer than 12 months.
More information. For more information on accounting periods, including how to change your accounting period, see Publication 538, Accounting Periods and Methods.
