Filers turned in more than 85 million income tax returns as of March 23.

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Don't panic if you're still sitting on an incomplete tax return in early April. It'll get in the way of you saving money. As of March 23, the Internal Revenue Service received 85.6 million tax returns, roughly on pace compared to the same point last year. In all, the agency expects it will receive more than 155 million tax returns this year. Even the stragglers can eke out a tax win this season, provided they don't haphazardly throw their return together and rush it out the door by April 17. "The key elements are to double-check your return and make sure you get every deduction you're entitled to," said Brian Ashcraft, corporate regional director at Liberty Tax Service. Slow down and consider these tax tips before you file.

Get more time

Secure an appointment as soon as you can. Just because your tax professional was able to get you an extension last year, you shouldn't assume that he or she can do it this year. "They're not allowed to file an extension unless you request it or give them permission," said Cari Weston, director of tax practice and ethics at the American Institute of CPAs. Also, if you haven't lined up a tax preparer, avoid strolling into the first practice with empty seats. Get a trusted recommendation first.

"The kind of people who might have availability now might not be the kind of people you want to work with," said Weston. "The better they are, the more in-demand they are." Don't forget that extensions only give you more time to file. If you owe taxes, you'll still need to pay them by April 17. Your preparer can help you with that, too. He or she will give you an estimate of what you owe so you can pay the taxman on time.

Dig up your cheat sheet

Whether you prepare your own taxes or you need to gather your documents for your CPA, take a peek at your return from last year. This is especially important for individuals who receive piles of 1099s or who get income from Social Security: The last thing you want to do is forget to report some income you've received. See below for some of the tax forms you'll need in order to file.

If you can't track down a 1099 — or if you have to do a little legwork to hunt down the cost basis of a stock — ask for an extension. Your preparer can help you build your own cheat sheet by offering you a tax organizer when you get your taxes back or before you file. "It shows what you had last year," said Weston. "Use it as a guide."

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