When AD/HD and The Dreaded Tax Deadline Meet

Somewhat Effective Strategies: When ADHD and the Dreaded Tax Deadline Meet

Do you always get your taxes done by April 15th? Let us know how you do it! What problems do you have with taxes year after year? We’d love to hear from you!

Ah, it’s that time of year again - time to start sorting. Until midnight on April 15th, frantic ADDers everywhere will be doing their taxes. Some will be filing an extension so that they can worry about it until August 15th – or forget about it until August 15th – take your pick.

Tax Time Tips:

Setting a timer while you work can serve two good purposes. It can keep you from wandering off, and it can prevent your going without food, water and bathroom breaks during tax time. Decide on a reasonable amount of time, and the QUIT when the time is up. Trust us, your brain needs a break. Even if it’s a short break, it’s important to take it. For those of you who do occasionally wander off (and who doesn’t?), the timer will “call” you back to the desk.

If you’re having trouble staying “on task” (or for that matter, awake) at your desk, try doing your work somewhere else – like the living room floor or kitchen table, assuming that it won’t cause more chaos.

In addition, try recruiting a friend to serve as a “body double” - someone who quietly acts as an anchor while you work. Just having someone else present can help to keep you on task. It’s a good chance for your friend to read that novel, write a letter, or work on a project. If your friend also has trouble staying on task with paperwork, you can return the favor.

You can also use the phone (with a headset) for “remote body double” sessions – that way, both parties can get their work done at the same time. This works well if you have only minimal dialogue during the work session. If you are concerned about tying up the phone or would like to call someone outside your local calling area, consider using a cell phone plan that includes free calling between subscribers or free nights and weekends.

And now that you’re done with your taxes (that was fast), let’s talk about archiving last year’s records…OK, maybe the previous decade’s records. If you throw all of your records away at the end of the year, just know that even we do not recommend it. If you haven’t archived your records, it’s time to do so, so you’ll have room in your filing cabinet again.

If you don’t have much of a filing system, don’t fret. Categories do make it easier in the case of an audit, but why categorize old papers unless you get audited? Just separate the records by year and box them up! This simple task will make the next year’s paperwork much easier to manage.

Ginger’s Tips for Archiving Records

• Don’t box tax returns from the last 2-3 years (you might need them to verify income if you are applying for credit).

• Box last year’s papers, but don’t store them in the attic (I often have to dig through mine).

• Before throwing papers away, shred anything that has personal information or account numbers on it.

For info on what to keep and for how long, visit these web pages: http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/ff21.pdf

http://houseandhome.msn.com/Decorate/PurgeThosePapers.aspx

Do you know that you can file an extension via a toll-free phone number, or over the Internet? http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=122535,00.html