Tax season is quickly approaching and being prepared will make filing your personal tax return a seamless process. The following are suggestions to consider before meeting with your tax professional or filing your return independently.

Organize your Documents If you haven’t already done so, begin organizing information needed to prepare your tax return.

It’s a fact that gas prices have continued to rise without a clear view of where and when they will taper off.

Since gas is a vital component of our busy lifestyles, it is better to find positive solutions than to complain. In all reality, complaining about the prices will not change them.

Here are some practical tips to help you save gas and money: 1. Avoid useless trips. If you map out your day and line up errands and stops according to your route, you will save back-tracking and unnecessary gas use.

2. Stop making quick accelerations - keep your speed steady.

The Greater Sacramento Area AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program seeks volunteers for the 2005 tax season to provide free personal income tax assistance to low and middle income taxpayers, with special attention given to 60+. Taxpayers of all ages, races, religions and national origins are provided tax counseling.

The only prerequisite to become a Tax-Aid Counselor is possession of a desire to give time and to help others.

S a c r a m e n t o C o u n t y ' s Department of Human Assistance helps working families prepare tax returns.

Background April 15th is not all that far away, and it's time to begin talking about W-2's, 1040's and other tax terms that we often push to the back of our minds the rest of the year. While you're getting out the boxes of receipts and digging through piles of paper to find what you need, keep in mind that help may be just around the corner.