How to Organize Tax Documents, Paperwork, & Receipts (Part 7 of 10 Paper Clutter Series)

Overwhelmed w/ Paper Clutter? Start here: www.alejandra....
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Hello! I'm Alejandra Costello, professional organizing expert from Alejandra.tv! In this video I show you how to organize tax documents, paperwork, and receipts at home or in your office so you can stay organized for tax season!
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Products Shown (NOTE: links are affiliate links):
*** Red Tax Document Organizer: amzn.to/3bVDwdO
*** Business Tax Receipt Organizer: www.alejandra....
*** Tax Return Organizer: www.alejandra....
*** Pink Accordion Organizer: www.alejandra....
*** How Long to Keep Documents List: www.alejandra....
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This is part 7 of a 10 part paper clutter series on getting organized at home. You can watch the entire video series here: www.alejandra....
Thanks for watching and happy organizing :)
Alejandra

[@Ihdobevoli]

Every time i watch one of her videos, it’s like a fog clears from my mind.

[@Rebeccas_Dialysis_Life]

Awesome! This is the video I've been waiting for! I'm totally lost on how to file these documents so that I don't lose them or forget how I organized it all! Thanks Alejandra! You're a superstar!

[@HomeOrganizing]

You're welcome! :) So glad you resonated with this video, Rebecca!

[@AysenurDogan94]

This is the most adult video I've ever seen

[@dorianthomas8310]

Maybe because i dont like adulting is why this is so confusing to me

[@QueenElsaVeganfromEurope]

You mean better than adult sites such as tinder or pornhub?

[@Jessica-zw9kq]

Applying is so hard.. So I need all the help I can get🤣

[@anitah.7906]

I can't tell you how thrilled I am that you are posting new videos again! I watched every single video that you put out a few years back, many of them multiple times! You really spurred me on my organizational journey and now you are back! The paper series is perfect as I need to tackle my papers. I tend to be too meticulous and put off dealing with it until I have the "ideal" time to set up the "perfect" system which explains why I still haven't dealt with it, lol. Tx for your great content!!

[@HomeOrganizing]

Ah yes - I understand the inner perfectionist very well. What I've found to be true most of the time is that when we wait for the "perfect" time to get started, we're focused on what's NOT right about the situation as opposed to focusing on what's RIGHT! Obviously there are other considerations as well. However, focus is one of the top 3 keys to getting organized! Not sure if this resonates with you but thought I'd share in case it does :) Thank you for being here - I feel honored you've watched every single video of mine!

[@anitah.7906]

@@HomeOrganizing How on earth did I just see your response?! Anyhow thank you so much, what you said definitely makes sense and is helpful! I was just on your accountability phone call 3/25/20 (I didn't have the chance to actually chat with you, but seeing this personal response here really blessed my day :) but a lot of the mental/emotional part of it you talked about resonated with me. It was so good! I have watched 100's of organizing videos (a fav hobby) and feel like there's not much new anymore until that phone call. What you said about the way we approach organizing mentally and what we say to ourselves did not occur to me. I do know some of the mental talk with getting rid of clutter, but the other things were new to me and very helpful! Can't wait to re-read my notes and make some progress! 3 young children and homeschooling does take a lot of my time, but it is possible to squeeze organizing in there!! Sorry so long, but thanks again for your response!!

[@itsalysssaa]

absolutely incredible. you always amaze me alejandra !!! this will be so helpful. i can’t wait to use your tips and get totally organized this tax season :) i keep watching this video over and over, your voice is so soothing and the way you explain things is always so clear. thank you !

[@HomeOrganizing]

So glad you found this video valuable!

[@pj7557]

Love this whole series......super helpful!! I appreciate what you and your team do for us!!

[@melissar401]

You are my new favorite channel. Need people like you in our lives, thanks so much for all the detail you put into your videos. Subscribed! :)

[@karenalexandre9778]

Huge fan of the “red folder”!! I love your accordion folder idea, will do that for next year 👍

[@HomeOrganizing]

So glad! Thank you for being here!

[@ColRusSer]

From other comments I’m reading (don’t often), I see other people love your voice and call it soothing, Alejandra! You do have the most wonderful voice. But, it’s not just that; it’s your entire demeanor. Very calming. For some reason, the sound of the highlighter on paper is like fingernails on chalkboard for me, though!😆 It’s just a few seconds; no biggie!😌 Anddddd, are an amazing organizer!👏🏻💖

[@et9093]

Watching all your videos while I organize all my receipts for my first year of self employment, this helped so much appreciate it and thank you!

[@melissacronecarvell]

Such a great video about a subject many of us are nervous about 👑 Really useful advice for all 💙💚

[@HomeOrganizing]

Thank you Melissa!

[@alsokristin7308]

Hello Alejandra, I watched almost all your videos and I've learned a lot from you re organizing, declutering etc. But my paperwork, I don't know how and where to start. There are documents everywhere, in different closets. Don't know how they got there 😉 Today I made a first step: buying a document folder for my important documents that I have to keep for ever. Thank you for your great videos.

[@rockerbaby2003]

Omg I needed this so bad! I’m doing taxes this coming weekend and I’ve been dreading it as I had 4 side hustles in addition to my full time job. Thankfully in June of 19 I had updated a small calendar log where I tracked time spent on which hustle and any related costs, so I finished updating it for the last 6 months of 2019 and now I’m ready. I know what my earnings, expenses and deductions are and have the documentation to back it up if I’m ever audited.

[@chinonye2]

rockerbaby2003 what side hustles were those? Exploring the possibilities of starting one.

[@rockerbaby2003]

chinonye2 I did work for care dot com, Shipt, Instacart and mystery shopping for numerous companies. The mystery shopping required purchases the companies reimbursed, but technically i have to claim the reimbursement as income and expense as a deduction, as well as mileage. I also noted how long things took, and determined my cell phone bill by the hour each month and deducted that as a cost too. I’m just starting to work for GoGoKid too. On paper for the mystery shopping, I did track each company, the date I did what and checked when I received the proper funds and how, paper check, direct deposit, PayPal payment, etc.

[@HomeOrganizing]

So glad this video came to you at such great timing! Great job for setting up the calendar back in June - sounds like that will be helpful for you this coming weekend!

[@chinonye2]

rockerbaby2003 thanks dear😊

[@byefelicia8632]

“Side hustles”? Who has been hustling you? 4 daddies? 😄

[@alexgrontis9349]

In 13 I don’t even know why I’m here probably cause I always fall asleep watching these and it’s not cause it’s boring(I mean some of them are cause I’m 13) but her voice is so soothing

[@HautePinkFluff]

Mood edits At least when you get your first job and tax season comes around, you’ll be prepared and organized from watching Alejandra! 😊

[@arindanenninger9123]

Mood edits yes her voice is awesome. If you like these try ASMR videos.

[@alexgrontis9349]

Mama Llama I love asmr videos I have ptsd and insomnia and literally can not go to sleep with out watching an asmr video

[@donnaschindlbeck7457]

Great suggestions! I go one step further and enter documents in Quicken or a spreadsheet, place a checkmark in the upper right hand corner, then file them. At tax time I only need to print off the Quicken file or spreadsheet and entry is so easy. I know if it has a checkmark I’ve entered it. I can match them to spreadsheets if necessary. Love your videos ❤️

[@tanushreemishra7007]

Waiting for your next schedule of videos...just to ensure that we would be previleged to have ur videos....love ur videos...

[@HomeOrganizing]

I'm glad you enjoy my videos! Thank you for being here!

[@punkyspray]

Thanks so much for posting this! ❤️💪🎁

[@HomeOrganizing]

You're welcome!

[@Mary-mb9ju]

Hi Alejandra I have watched your YT Videos over and over, I have been following your easy organizing tips, and what a difference it has made for me when I need to find what I'm looking for, and it feels good being organized. Wish you would start new videos just like the ones innpreviuos years. Honestly I didn't like the most recent ones, where the community share the organizing in their homes. Just being honest. Hopefully you will consider making new content of your own home again. Have a Fantastic day. Bye for now. Rita

[@sophiaboat9180]

Such a helpful video. Thank you for sharing

[@HomeOrganizing]

You're welcome!

[@Misty82787]

Loved it so much I watched it multiple times, such good suggestions. Thank you so much!

[@HomeOrganizing]

You're welcome!

[@brendascally116]

I really enjoy watching your videos. I do like your system, but as a very naturally unorganized person, one thing that I do is highlight the "tax bill" while at the mail center. This is when I am most focused on the document and know its contents well. Once I put it away, I forget and have to search for the data I want to highlight later. Not overly time consuming by itself, but when I have to do it for every piece of supporting tax documents, it becomes very time consuming. I save more time when I highlight when the documents come in as I'm already looking at it, sorting it for importance, writing due dates, etc.... Hope this is helpful!

[@kellisbulleigh3827]

Genious. Thank You!

[@HomeOrganizing]

You're welcome!

[@lindagutierrez3855]

I love you videos. Always look forward to the next one. 👍🏽

[@579curly]

Love your videos as always. Love your hair!

[@krsdigitaldesigns5142]

Bless you! This is wonderful! Thank you for your awesome tips!

[@user-bc7ur4kp5v]

Wonderful and beautiful organization i love you يا ريت تفعيل الترجمه للعربيه

[@lucyhost9554]

Such a great informative video, I'll be buying these envelopes and using a similar system! Thank you!

[@amethyst4444]

OMG SO HAPPY I FOUND YOU CHANNEL! NEW SUB!

[@jenreu]

You are wonderful.. ❤ Your document has my bday date on it 😂😂😂😂

[@HomeOrganizing]

Ah fun!!!!

[@inhabitantofearth]

Can you make a video about how you decide where to put your furniture? Like, I tend to place my bed against the wall, but some people like their beds in the middle of the wall with a nightstand on one (or both) sides. Do you stage furniture for the purpose of creating more space in the room, or to make it visually pleasing to you? What is your technique?

[@molo4769]

Is it possible to show how to organize photos and how to upload for safety backups? Thank you. Xox

[@ayrenbethancourt9379]

Hi, alejandra! I was wondering, do you have any books? I mean, written by you. Sometimes I haven't got wifi and it would be brilliant if I could carry on reading about how to organise! (i have read several times marie kondo and other😂), i like your method. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Love from Australia ❤️

[@stacimadron740]

Organizing is key. But my question is as a business owner. How do you organize all your receipts and expenses to submit to your CPA. Do you use Quick Books? I would like to know different ways to put every thing together and what programs you use. Thank you!

[@iamwatergirl]

only the first link works!!!

[@ctatang]

I am also a lefty!

[@staciethomas1403]

What happened to Alejandra TV? Where do you get the items and how do you connect with her?

[@gautamjn]

Can you make a video on organizing Google drive

[@financialstep]

Good Job

[@RF-cp5cz]

What kind of label machine are you using and color tapes? Thanks

[@HomeOrganizing]

Here's a link to my label maker and the 12 different label tapes I use! :) www.alejandra.tv/tools/best-home-organizational-products/#gadgets

[@Cal_is_the_goat]

Where do you get these poly envelopes? Love them!

[@Lashlove16]

Nat Mont they look like they are from Daiso the Japanese dollar store most items are 1:.50

[@bellabibibeauty665]

You get them on Amazon 😉

[@HomeOrganizing]

This is the red folder! amzn.to/3bVDwdO

[@4loveofshopping]

Hi, thanks for the tips, what are your favorite brand highlighters? I have a hard time finding ones that are translucent enough to not block text out when making a photocopy of a document with highlighted text. Thank you,

[@Jeffh206]

Fantastic information! Thanks! How do I find that form you placed in front of your yearly tax document pouch?

[@MyMaxKitty]

I love your shirt! Where did you get it?

[@HomeOrganizing]

Ralph Lauren outlet! It's such a great fit, comes in different colors/patterns, and on sale/clearance for like $14-$19!

[@bdfllc3657]

Do you recommend keeping tax receipts & filed taxes in fire safe storage?

[@yashashukla]

hi

[@EugeniaSoares]

Hey Alejandra. Do you scan your paper documents? I do, and I organize everything with an App so I keep a digital copy as well. ;-)

[@saramartin374]

Cool

[@robinlynnstepp1327]

♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@brionyhall4250]

I hate tax season 😩😩😩

[@HomeOrganizing]

Organization is key!

[@brionyhall4250]

@@HomeOrganizing so true. Trying to get my partner to stay organised is something not even you could accomplish 😅😅😅

[@shantelroberts5664]

Make a new video of a office

[@organized4]

Lesson from this: Taxes start in January in the current year, NOT next February!! :)

[@devonzara]

I find it quite ironic that a video playlist containing videos on being organized is not actually organized itself. The playlist starts with #9 and #8 at the top... 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@TheCriticalChris]

You lost me at not keeping personal and business tax documents separate (2m:30s).

[@neelamgundapur931]

Dear you are awesome love you sweety

[@Kenn1969]

I’m so unorganized when it comes to sex, any tips would be very helpful, thanks

[@marianax03]

You should look into ASMR.

[@kayleejohnson832]

so you’re a virgo, right?

[@byefelicia8632]

Horrible hairstyle Alejandra. The right side looks like you have white hair but its the reflection?? from the light. C’mon. Organize yourself in the fashion department 😄

[@KhaJani16]

Thank you for the informative, motivating video!! 😊✨👍

[@sherylchanthawoharn8412]

Where do you purchase all these pouches, etc?

[@SanjaArctica3]

I absolutely love your videos, you are so neat! And love all the color arrangement! I always get picked on for organising so watching your videos is very therapeutic to me :) Keep up the good work, looking forward to seeing your next video! Greetings from Croatia!

[@HomeOrganizing]

Glad you find my videos therapeutic for you! Greetings from the USA!

[@Bedelia1967]

Welcome Back Alejandra!

[@spendynana6858]

So thrilled to see new videos!! Love your videos!

[@HomeOrganizing]

Thank you! :)

[@4luvit]

I just don't know what to do with the manuals for like the toaster to the lawn tractor????

[@jessicalavertue2061]

Do you have a recent 2020 video on the binder organization?

[@nozimamukhamdjanova2936]

Good morning I am so glad you are making videos again, ...thank you

[@stacey738]

I use two accordion organisers: one for the current year and one for last year. (I need last year's because the new year starts before the paperwork for the previous year has been filed). Each division has a type of expense, and all the receipts go in their place. Once the tax season for that year is filed and finished, I transfer each division into a sleeve and file it. I've been using this system for years now and it works really well. I also reference every receipt with a two digit code and a number, so office supplies will be OS, and the receipts will be OS1, OS2, OS3... etc. I write the reference on them, scan them, and then put them in the OS division of the organiser. I use CamScanner to scan with my phone, and then download all the OS scans in pdf format from their website where it is in the cloud. I do the referencing because I do all the books for my business, and my husband's, and both of our personal taxes. There are a lot of receipts and stuff that needs to be kept track of. I don't know what the USA tax laws are, but in my country you only need to keep the tax paperwork for 5 years, so I cycle my tax files on a 5 year rotational basis. I have 5 files, and when I finish off the taxes for the most recent year (say, 2020), I take out and shred the oldest file's contents (so 2015) and re-use that file. So in your case you don't need a never-ending supply of final polyenvelopes, only 5 :)

[@HomeOrganizing]

Thank you for sharing your tax system with me/us! :) Glad you found a system that works!!

[@user-bc7ur4kp5v]

Please activate the Arabic translation

[@harrisonhaverly3516]

You can try using auto-translate on KZbin, or if that's not good enough then go to a video translation website (like votch.tv or a similar one)

[@c_wanderluster]

Thank god I am not American and I don't live in the USA! Your taxes systems is so complicated and I don't understand why you should file the taxes or what it means