Grinning Cheek To cheek

Parenting and Family Lifestyle

You are here: Home / Giveaways / Office Depot Can Help! Interview and H&R Block Tax Software {Giveaway Closed}

Office Depot Can Help! Interview and H&R Block Tax Software {Giveaway Closed}

Office Depot has partnered with Personal Finance Expert Farnoosh Torabi regarding personal finance, tax, home and office organization tips. 

I think a huge problem for many families is keeping those papers and mailings organized: How to organize personal documents, which papers to save, and which to shred – and how to keep it all together! Farnoosh had a few ideas on how to stay organized, by getting organized! If your workspace is cluttered, your life will feel cluttered!  I can’t agree with this more! 
I had the wonderful opportunity to do an over-the-phone interview with Farnoosh.  Please see this video:
 
You can assess the mess and focus on three key areas: debt, savings, and your credit:

  • Gather bills and statements from all three categories and begin arranging them using labels, folders and other organizational tools
  • A shredder also comes in handy when you want to get rid of dated materials and personal information you no longer need.
  • Begin looking ahead – make sure your messy desk doesn’t create messy finances, especially when dealing with tax-related paperwork, mortgage or rent statements, car insurance bills, warranties and other important documents  

Office Depot is also hosting a giveaway for TWO H&R Block’s At Home Deluxe or Business tax software! The software is easy to use, intuitive and will help your readers get their taxes ready to go long before the IRS deadline. 
Office DepotOffice Depot has a great site (http://www.officedepot.com/tax) where readers can go to get a plethora of tax-related information and tips, and they are also offering customers 25 free copies of their tax return (coupon can be found here: http://f.chtah.com/i/48/1237020949/CPD_TaxLand_1210.pdf ) until 4/15/11.
Last Minute Tax Tips from Office Depot’s Finance Expert, Farnoosh Torabi:
Good news is you have three EXTRA days this year to file, due to April 15 falling on a holiday in D.C. this year.
1.       File Online. Go green and save time and money. Choose from a variety of affordable online software to help you file your taxes [H&R Block At Home Deluxe & At Home Business] Note that taxpayers whose adjusted gross income was $58,000 or less in 2010 can file electronically for free through the IRS web site at freefile.IRS.gov.
2.       Boost IRA Savings. Contributing to a traditional IRA is one of the last ways to really reduce your 2010 taxable income before April 18.  You have until the very last day to contribute to this retirement account and deduct the amount from your taxable income. The dollar limit contribution for 2010 is $5,000 is you’re 49 or younger. $6,000 if you’re age 50 or older.
3.       Remember the Basics. Be sure to sign and date your 1040. Review your personal identification – social security, address, business ID (for business owners), etc.  
4.       Opt for Direct Deposit. Another perk to filing electronically is that if you’re expecting a refund, you can get your check sent directly to your savings account. And because you avoid snail mail you can probably get paid a week early.
5.       Add Up All Your Write-Offs.  Deductible expenses here and there can add up to big savings come tax day. Job hunting-related expenses such as relocation (50 miles away from current home), travel and meals, copies, faxes, are eligible for a tax deduction. Also, if you are self-employed you may receive deductions for insurance paid out of pocket and any self-employment taxes.  Don’t forget deductions for student loan interest and medical savings accounts, too.
6.       Make a Copy of Your Return. It will come in handy when filling out next year’s return. Plus if you apply for a mortgage or a refinance, banks will want to see your tax return.  Keep returns for an average 3 years from when it was filed, during which time the IRS is most likely to audit (if at all).
7.       Stay Organized. As soon as you’re done filing make sure you keep all your paperwork organized. Your return, your paystubs, your receipts, will all come in handy down the road if (and I hope this doesn’t happen) the IRS decides to audit your return or if there is a discrepancy between the IRS records and what you claimed and you need to prove that, indeed, you filed everything correctly. 
8.       Out of Time? Get an Extension. If you absolutely can’t make the April 18th deadline this year, you can request a six-month extension by filling out the IRS Form 4868. 

WIN IT!!!!
Thanks to Office Depot, Two lucky readers will be randomly selected to win H&R Block’s At Home Deluxe/ Business tax software!! (MSRP:  $44.95)
H&R Block Deluxe Software
  • This first entry is MANDATORY.  Leave a comment below telling me your favorite tax time tip!

Extra Entries: (Current subscribers count as well!)

  • Subscribe to my blog via email (upper left email insertion box)
  • Follow my blog publicly via GFC (right side center)
  • Post my Button on your blog. (please leave a link!)
  • Follow @OfficeDepot on Twitter
  • Follow  GrinCheek2Cheek on Twitter on twitter and tweet about this giveaway:  (this may be done daily as well)
    Enter to #win H&R Block’s At Home Deluxe Software #Taxes #Irs #HRBlock @officedepot @GrinCheek2Cheek Ends March 3rd! http://tiny.ly/tJze
  • Like GrinningCheektoCheek on Facebook! please include your facebook name with your entry.
  • Like Office Depot on Facebook.
  • Write on Office Depot’s Facebook wall that you’ve entered at www.grinningcheektocheek.com to win one of two copies of H&R Block At Home Deluxe Tax Software from Office Depot.
  • Follow my blog via Networked Blogs (click on right)
  • Vote for me on picket fence blogs. One Entry per vote(per day).
  • Enter any of my other Current giveaways. 1 extra entry per contest entered.

Open  to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends March 3rd, 2011 at 11:59pm. Winner  will be drawn by random.org the following day, and will be e-mailed. Winner will  have 48 hours to respond or a new  winner will be drawn.  Winners will be announced on this blog after all have responded.  I received a Gift Card and Software in exchange for this post. However, all of my opinions are 100% my own and are no way influenced by compensation received.

Comments

  1. 1stopmom says

    Organize all your tax related paperwork through out the year so it will be easy to find at tax time!

    onestopmom(at)gmail.com

    Reply

  7. Baby Pickel says

    My favorite "tax time tip" would be keeping everything well recorded and up to date throughout the year!!

    Thanks for the great giveaway!!

    pickelfacebook (at) live (dot) com

    Reply

  39. ferriz says

    keep everything together that way when it is time to do the taxes you do not spend hours looking for everything!

    ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  46. Petteri says

    My favorite tax time tip is always saving all my receipts for any major purchases in one folder I keep next to my desktop!

    tke1023(at)yahoo(dot)com

    Reply

  76. susansmoaks says

    my tax time tip is to get it done so you don't have to worry about it when the time is up
    susansmoaks at gmail dot com

    Reply

  78. jual sweater polos says

    Each one of these qualities have more product to the present top, together with growing
    it’s glance. One Direction were chosen to appear in the November issue of Wonderland magazine, which will be available at WH Smith and select newsagents on November 8th 2012. This sweater is a great luxury men’s sweater for a dress up look.

    Reply

  79. garcinia plus uk says

    For attaining satisfactory result, it is advised to drink apple cider vinegar before
    meals. It refers to an unusual property of an
    acid to reduce hunger without affecting any bodily system.
    Any reader who is concerned about his or her health
    should contact a doctor for advice.

    Reply

  80. Francine says

    Howdy! Someonje in my Myspace group shared this site with us soo I came too look it
    over. I’m definitely loving the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this
    to my followers! Great blog and exceloent design.

    Reply

  81. tax software says

    I was recommended this blog by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by
    him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty.
    You are incredible! Thanks!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

DHGate