What You Should Do Right Now to Prepare for Tax Season: A Practical Guide for 2025–2026 Filers

As the year winds down, most people are focused on holiday plans, closing out projects, or getting ready for a fresh start in January. But there’s one task that deserves attention long before the calendar flips: preparing for tax season.

Every year, people scramble at the last minute to find documents, understand new rules, or figure out why their refund looks different than expected. The truth is that a little early preparation can protect you from stress, and sometimes even save you money.

At Postema Accounting Solutions, we’ve spent more than 34 years helping individuals and small businesses file confidently and strategically.

Here’s what you can do right now to make this upcoming tax season easier, faster, and far less overwhelming.

1. Start Gathering Your Documents Early

The biggest bottleneck during tax season is missing information. Even though W-2s, 1099s, and official forms don’t arrive until January, you can start collecting everything else now. That includes:

Last year’s tax return
Receipts for charitable contributions
Medical, childcare, and education expenses
Business income and expense records (for self-employed taxpayers)
Rental property information
Investment or retirement contribution details

Having a folder, digital or physical, ready now means you won’t be hunting for paperwork later.

2. Review Any Major Life Changes

Life changes often lead to tax changes, and most people don’t realize it until they file. If anything significant happened this year, it’s worth reviewing how it may affect your return.

For example:

Marriage or divorce
A new child or dependent
Buying or selling a home
Starting a business or closing one
Taking on rental property
Retirement contributions or distributions

These events can impact credits, deductions, filing status, and overall tax liability. Addressing them now gives you time to plan and avoid surprises.

3. For Business Owners: Close the Books Before the Year Ends

If you own a business, year-end preparation is even more important. Clean books aren’t just for compliance — they’re the foundation of an accurate tax return.

Before December 31:

Reconcile bank and credit card accounts
Review payroll reports
Update depreciation and asset purchases
Confirm you have complete records for income and expenses
Prepare for 1099 and W-2 reporting

A little cleanup now prevents bigger headaches later. It also allows us to identify deductions or strategies that could lower your tax bill before it’s too late.

4. Check Your Withholding or Estimated Payments

Many people discover in March that they underpaid taxes — or paid too much throughout the year. Reviewing your withholding now can prevent both issues.

If you had a major change in income, a new job, or inconsistent earnings, adjusting your withholding or estimated payments before January could make a meaningful difference in your final refund or balance due.

5. Schedule Your Tax Appointment Early

Filing early often results in faster refunds and fewer delays. It also gives you the advantage of asking questions and planning ahead instead of rushing through the process.

At Postema Accounting Solutions, we offer sit-down appointments, drop-off services, and secure mail-in options — all designed to make tax season simple and efficient, no matter where you’re located.

Getting on the schedule early means you start the year with clarity and confidence.

Here’s what you can do right now to make this upcoming tax season easier, faster, and far less overwhelming.

Tax season doesn’t have to be stressful. With a little preparation, the right guidance, and a trusted accounting partner, you can enter the new year organized, informed, and ready.

If you want help reviewing your information, planning ahead, or ensuring you’re taking advantage of every opportunity, our team is here to walk you through it step by step.

Postema Accounting Solutions

Simplifying finances. Protecting futures.

Serving Defiance, Northwest Ohio, and clients nationwide.

Book your early tax appointment today.

Preparing for Your Tax Appointment: A Comprehensive Checklist of Required Documents and Information by Postema Accounting Solutions

Preparing taxes can be a confusing and frustrating process. But it doesn’t have to be! We are here to help make tax preparation as simple as possible.

Below you will find a list of all the required tax preparation items:

Required Tax Preparation Items:

Copy of last year’s tax return
Full legal name, social security #, and birthdates of all individuals represented on tax return
All W-2s
All 1099s (Miscellaneous income i.e. rental, non-employee income, etc.)