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Richer 2011 – Plan for your taxes

By Elayne Fluker | Published January 6, 2011 | Full size is 1000 × 667 pixels

5. Start tax planning now, not in April. Building wealth means not treating your tax filings as a last minute exercise. Get a qualified tax professional, preferably a CPA, to help you make sure that you are getting all of the deductions you are entitled to and keeping as much money in your pocket as possible. That means sending the IRS no more than you actually owe, not overpaying them (effectively giving the government an interest-free loan) in hopes of getting a refund after April 15. Black Enterprise Editorial Director for Personal Finance John Simons recommends the tax calculator at www.mytaxburden.org as a way to get an idea of how much you could be expected to pay in taxes this year. By the way, the earlier you get your tax documents to your preparer, the less likely it is you'll be forced to file for an extension because you did not beat the last-minute stampede to April 15.

5. Start tax planning now, not in April. Building wealth means not treating your tax…