Financial Planner

Checklist: Your Taxes

Things to do this weekend with your money

While early birds can begin filing their 2000 taxes electronically starting today, most of the rest of us still need to get organized.

* Designate a folder or shoe box to hold all the tax-related documents that will begin coming in the mail. Make a list of the W2s and 1099s you’re expecting and check them off as they arrive. That will help you track down any missing documents if they don’t appear by Jan. 31. Intuit has a list of organizing tips at www.turbotax.com.

* Make an appointment with your tax preparer or purchase the supplies you’ll need to do your own taxes. Intuit’s TurboTax and Kiplinger TaxCut have off-the-shelf and Internet-based versions. A tax book such as “J.K. Lasser’s Your Income Tax 2001” might also come in handy.

* If you’re required to make estimated tax payments, the due date for your last payment for 2000 is Monday.