This is just a short list of things you can do anytime of the year to be prepared for taxes. It's not intended to be comprehensive.

First Quarter

* Complete Form W-4 and adjust withholding if needed.
* Pay fourth-quarter estimated tax voucher for the preceding tax year by January 15.
* Evaluate before-tax contributions to retirement plans.
* Evaluate voluntary after-tax contributions to retirement plans.
* Apply for a Social Security number for any child who does not have one.
* Make quarterly defined benefit Keogh contribution for preceding year by January 15.

Second Quarter

* Comply with minimum distribution rules for qualified plans by April 1 if you attained age 70½ in previous year.
* File individual tax return (or an application for an extension of time to file) by April 15.
* Pay first-quarter estimated tax, using the correct voucher, by April 15.
* Make previous-year IRA contribution by April 15.
* Make previous-year Keogh plan contribution by April 15 (unless you applied for an extension of time to file your tax return).
* Make quarterly defined benefit Keogh contribution for the current year by April 15.
* Pay second-quarter estimated tax voucher by June 15.

Third Quarter

* Make quarterly defined benefit Keogh contribution for the current year by July 15.
* File Form 5500 Annual Report of Employee Benefit Plan by July 31, if applicable.
* If you applied for an extension of time to file your preceding year's tax return, file the return or an additional extension request by August 15.
* Pay third-quarter estimated tax voucher by September 15.

Fourth Quarter

* If you got an extension of time to file later than August 15, you must file by October 15.
* Make your quarterly defined benefit Keogh contribution for the current year by October 15.
* Begin your year-end planning:.
* Evaluate the applicability of the AMT and other taxes.
* Adjust withholding, if necessary.
* Evaluate year-end capital transactions.
* Establish a separate Keogh plan for self-employment income.
* Comply with minimum distribution rules for qualified plans.

Throughout the Year

* Evaluate your tax and financial strategy for receiving discretionary and mandatory retirement plan distributions.
* Reevaluate your uses of debt.
* Consider making gifts to children or other family members up to the annual gift tax exclusion of $11,000 per gift per donee per year.
* Evaluate passive loss exposure and potential investment shifts.
* If you have excess cash flow, consider how to invest those funds.
* Optimize mix of interest expense items.
* Consider making charitable contributions of property, instead of (or in addition to) giving cash.
* Consider ways to fund your children's education.
* Evaluate your mix of portfolio and passive income.
* Review prior gifts to children under age 14 and their incomes in order to minimize the amount of income that will be taxed at your rate.
* Review the selection of your second residence and status of your vacation home.