Because today's tax laws are so complicated, it is easy to overlook tax credits and deductions you are entitled to each year. Review the checklists below to make sure you are not paying more in taxes than necessary.

Small business tax preparation checklist

• SEP
  
• 401(k) plan
  
• SIMPLE plan
  
• Tax-free exchange
  
• Home office deduction
  
• First year expensing of business equipment
  
• Bonus depreciation
  
• Bad debt write-off
  
• Year-end bonuses
  

Individual tax preparation checklist

• Child tax credit
  
• Child care credit
  
• Tax-deductible IRA
  
• Roth IRA
  
• Rollover to Roth IRA
  
• Earned income credit
  
• Bunching deductions
  
• Income shifting to children
  
• Lifetime learning credit
  
• Education savings accounts
  
• Education expenses
  
• Flexible spending accounts
  
• Health savings account
  
• Adoption expense credit
  
• Shifting income or deductions from year to year
  
• Lifetime gifts