1040EZ

Five essential steps to tackle taxes:

Know your tax bracket Each bracket of your income is taxed at a different rate. As you make more money, a higher percentage may be owed in taxes. Check out this infographic on decoding your tax bracket to see how it works. Know your timeline The regular tax return filing deadline is April 15. In general, experts recommend filing tax returns earlier rather than later. The earlier you file, the better your chances of avoiding tax-related identity theft, a crime that’s on the rise. Plus, if you’re owed a refund, you will get it sooner. Additional tip: If you think