You’ve filed your taxes and now feel like you can sigh a big sigh of relief.

While you can, there are still important steps you should take now that your taxes are filed. Tax preparation should take place all year long, not just in the month of April. The more proactive you are throughout the year, the easier it is to stay on track with your taxes.

First, let’s look at what you should do immediately after filing your taxes.

The phrase “tax shelter” may sound sketchy, but the term is a little misleading. Law-abiding citizens can invest their income in several perfectly legal tax-sheltered savings accounts. These savings strategies allow you to reduce your taxable income and keep more cash in your pocket.

Let’s face it: No one likes paying taxes.

When you start to think about how much of your hard-earned money goes toward them, it can get frustrating—particularly when it comes time to file your taxes, and you see the yearly totals.

While there’s no way to avoid taxes altogether, there are ways to legally reduce how much you pay. Below are a few tips and tricks for keeping more money in your pocket.

Are you one of the many individuals who are taking charge of their careers by choosing to become self-employed?

If so, you need to take charge of your record keeping (especially for tax purposes), and that process can be a bit daunting. Here are some tips that will help you achieve the best financial outcome and ease the pressures of tax season.

Tax planning is not always simple or straightforward, but there are a variety of affordable products that can help guide you through the process and make it as efficient as possible.

These five top-rated tax-planning products can help you navigate your tax-filing journey, allowing you to reach the best outcome for your individual financial and business goals.

Taxes can be a headache, so if you’re always looking for tools to make them easier, we don’t blame you. An online tax calculator might be the answer.

However, don’t wait to calculate your taxes until the night before April 15. To avoid any nasty surprises, it’s good to think about taxes year-round and make a point of regularly estimating how much you might owe. 

This is where an online tax calculator can help. This tool can save you a lot of time estimating the amount of money you might owe.

Here are four of the best free tax calculators.

Most married couples never think about filing their taxes separately. They simply check off “married filing jointly” on their tax form and move on to the hard questions.

Generally speaking, a married couple should file their taxes together. Filing jointly combines a couple’s two incomes into one amount, which, after excluding nontaxable income, becomes the couple’s adjusted gross income (AGI). This larger number may push a couple’s income into the eligibility zone of certain deductions and credits.

Nevertheless, there are certain situations when you should consider opting for “married filing separately”.

Are you expecting a tax refund this year? What if instead of spending the money before you even have it in hand you use it to improve your credit?

If you have poor, fair, or even average credit, your credit score could use a boost and your tax refund could be the perfect way to make it happen.

Here’s how to use your tax refund to improve your credit score.

There are tons of online tax tools. Why go through the trouble of finding and hiring a tax planner?

Because a tax planner could save you millions over your lifetime, along with other benefits. Here’s what you need to know about tax pros.

What is a tax planner?

They are accounting professionals — certified public accountants (CPAs) or tax attorneys — who work with clients over a long period. A tax planner’s primary goal is to ensure that the client is prepared for the next filing season and pays the minimum taxes legally possible.

Even just a little tax planning can help save you money when tax time comes. Among other things, tax planning can help you and your accountant or tax advisor evaluate your financial situation in light of the current tax laws.

Below are some basic ideas and strategies you and your tax advisor might use to manage your tax burden.