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6 | r e d f c u.o r g ere are certainly lots more fun things to do at the start of a new year than preparing to file your taxes, but it may be one of the most rewarding. A little advance preparation can save you time and money. Area tax experts have some helpful tips to help you navigate the upcoming tax season. ese small business owners are also Redstone business members. Bryan Patterson with Patterson Accounting Solutions in Huntsville said getting organized will make the process easier. Start with this list: Last year's tax return, good for quick reference and comparison W-2 and 1099 forms Summary of other income Proof of expenses, such as childcare, and those related to education and medical Real estate documents While the paperwork can pile up when preparing for taxes, one tip to simplify the process is to manage the paperwork online. Try scanning documents and receipts throughout the year and save them as a PDF file. is will make them easy to find and print. Just make sure to back up your computer files, Patterson said. Lucita Jones, of Elite Financial Services, Inc., in Decatur, said it's important to stay informed about tax law changes when tackling taxes. GET READY FOR TA X T I M E ! "As a general rule, if a taxpayer begins early by collecting information and studying to stay current of tax law changes, he lessens the likelihood of omitting important tax documents and can apply new tax laws to his return," Jones said. "e result is a more accurately filed tax return with all tax benefits applicable to his situation." Some changes taxpayers should expect for 2020 taxes filed in 2021 include: e standard deduction for married couples filing jointly rises to $24,800. For single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately, the standard deduction rises to $12,400, and for heads of household, the standard deduction is $18,650, up $300. e Alternative Minimum Tax exemption amount is up from $71,700 to $72,900 for single filers. For married couples filing jointly, the exemption is $113,400. e maximum Earned Income Credit amount increases to $6,660 for qualifying taxpayers who have three or more qualifying children. For more information, talk with your tax advisor or go to irs.gov.