01
Keep contemporaneous records, not reconstructed ones
A mileage log written during the year is evidence. One written afterwards is an estimate, and it is treated as one.
Tax playbook · 9 tactics
9 Habits That Make a Tax Return Audit-Proof
Documentation, not aggression, is what determines how an examination ends.
02
Separate business and personal accounts completely
Commingled accounts turn a narrow question into a review of everything that passed through them.
03
Get written acknowledgements for donations above the threshold
Above defined amounts a receipt alone is not enough, and the deduction can be disallowed entirely.
04
Document the business purpose, not just the amount
Who, what, why and where. The amount is rarely the disputed part.
05
Track cost basis as you go
Reconstructing basis on an asset held for fifteen years is the most common avoidable tax overpayment.
06
Check the new Schedule 1-A boxes on your W-2
Qualified tips and overtime are now reported separately. If the box is empty and it should not be, ask payroll before filing.
07
Pay quarterly estimates on a standing order
Underpayment penalties apply even when the annual return is filed correctly and on time.
08
Keep records for the full lookback period
Assessment periods extend in cases of substantial understatement, and longer still where no return was filed.
09
Report everything that was reported about you
Mismatches against third-party information returns generate the most automated notices of any single cause.
Put it to work
Calculators for these tactics
Tax & Refunds
Tax Refund Estimator
Estimate a federal refund or balance due from income, withholding and credits.
Tax & RefundsSelf-Employment Tax Calculator
Social Security, Medicare and quarterly estimates for freelance income.
Tax & RefundsCharitable Donation Tax Calculator
What a donation actually costs you after the deduction — if you itemise at all.
2026 Tax ChangesSchedule 1-A Total Deduction Estimator
All four new deductions in one place — tips, overtime, car loan interest and the senior bonus.
Tax & RefundsCapital Gains Tax Calculator
Short-term vs long-term treatment, including the net investment income surtax.
Estimates, not advice. Every figure here is produced from the inputs you enter and the formula printed on the page. Rules differ by state, carrier, lender and contract, so use these numbers to prepare for a conversation with a qualified professional rather than to replace one. See our full disclaimer.