Don’t Sleep on These After–Tax Day Tips

With the April 15 deadline behind you, it’s tempting to put taxes out of mind—but a few quick follow-ups now can save time, money, and stress later.

Start with recordkeeping. The IRS generally has three years to audit a return, or six years if income is significantly understated, and no time limit in cases of fraud or no filing. A practical approach is to keep tax returns indefinitely and hold supporting documents for at least three years (longer if you want extra protection).

This is also a good time to get organized for next year. If you’re self-employed or have deductible expenses, keep mileage logs, receipts, and donation records current instead of trying to reconstruct them later.

Next, revisit your withholding and estimated taxes. If you owed money this year, you may need to increase withholding or estimated payments. If you received a large refund, you’re likely over-withholding. Life changes—like marriage, kids, job shifts, or side income—are often the trigger for adjustments. As a general benchmark, aim to cover at least 100% of last year’s tax liability (110% for higher-income taxpayers) to help avoid penalties.

Finally, don’t be alarmed if you receive a letter from the IRS. Many notices are routine—math corrections, third-party reporting mismatches, or document requests. Even audit notices are often limited correspondence audits handled by mail. The key is simple: open it, read it carefully, and respond by the deadline if required. Ignoring it can create bigger problems than the issue itself.

Bottom line: a little attention now—cleaning up records, adjusting payments, and staying responsive—makes next tax season much smoother. Contact a member of our team to start planning for the rest of the year!