If you’ve procrastinated on preparing your taxes, you’re not alone. Tax season can be a stressful time of year, especially for those who have left it until the last minute. Many people find themselves in this situation for different reasons from simply forgetting to not knowing where to start.
In this blog post, we’ll provide some guidance on what to do if you’ve procrastinated on getting ready for tax season.
Need more help with your tax preparation? Call John Freeman CPA at 319-396-5660 for tax preparation Cedar Rapids, IA
Step 1: Don’t panic
The first thing to remember is that there is no reason to panic. While it’s not ideal to wait until the last minute to prepare your taxes, it’s not the end of the world. The key is taking action as soon as possible to avoid missing any deadlines or penalties.
The tax filing deadline for 2023 is April 18th. The due date is April 18th this year instead of April 15th because of the weekend and the District of Columbia’s Emancipation Day holiday.
Step 2: Gather all necessary documents
The next step is to gather all the necessary documents that you need to file your taxes. This includes your W-2 forms, 1099 forms, and any other tax documents you may have received from your employer, bank, or investment accounts. If you’re missing any documents, reach out to the appropriate parties as soon as possible to request them.
The due date to file W-2 forms, W-3 forms, 1099 forms and many other tax forms is January 31st, 2023. That means by mid-February you should have received all the necessary tax forms from your employer, bank or investment accounts.
Don’t forget to read our Tax Preparation Guide!

Step 3: Decide how to prepare your taxes
Once you have all the necessary documents, you’ll need to decide how to prepare your taxes.
Options include:
- Doing it yourself using tax preparation software
- Hiring a CPA/tax professional
- Using a free tax preparation service, if you are eligible
If you’re comfortable with tax preparation software and have a fairly simple tax situation, this can be a cost-effective option. However, if you are self-employed or have a complicated tax situation, it may be best to hire a CPA/tax professional to ensure everything is done correctly.
Step 4: Determine if you need an extension
The IRS does grant extensions under certain circumstances. If you don’t think you are going to be able to file your taxes by April 18th, 2023, it is important that you request an extension as soon as possible. If the extension is granted, you will have an additional six months to file your taxes. However, if you owe taxes, you will need to pay any taxes you owe by the original deadline to avoid incurring interest or any additional penalties.
Step 5: File your taxes
Once you’ve gathered all your documents, decided how to prepare your taxes, and determined if you need an extension, it’s finally time to file your taxes. Make sure you double-check everything before submitting your return to ensure there are no errors or omissions.

Tips for avoiding procrastination next year
While it’s important to take action now to prepare your taxes, it’s also important to learn from this experience and avoid procrastinating next year. Here are some tips to help you stay on top of your taxes:
- Set reminders throughout the year to keep track of important tax-related deadlines, such as the deadline for making contributions to retirement accounts or health savings accounts.
- Keep all your tax-related documents in one place throughout the year, such as a folder or file on your computer. This will make it easier to find everything when it’s time to prepare your taxes.
- If you’re self-employed, make estimated tax payments throughout the year to avoid a big tax bill at the end of the year.
- Consider hiring a CPA/tax professional if you have a complicated tax situation or if you’re not comfortable preparing your taxes on your own.
Conclusion
If you’ve procrastinated on getting ready for tax season, the most important thing to do is to take action now. Gather all your documents, decide how to prepare your taxes, and file your return as soon as possible to avoid missing any deadlines or incurring penalties.
Remember to learn from this experience and take steps to avoid procrastinating on your taxes next year!
To learn more about working with a tax professional, contact CPA John Freeman.