If you haven't already started getting ready to file your taxes, now is definitely the time. Yes, it is that time of year again. April 15th is just around the corner and that means tax filing time.

Nobody likes to prepare tax returns. Okay, maybe accountants but that is about it. The key is to minimize the pain by having a plan and following it. The plan should be broken down into parts. Accomplish one part every other night and soon you'll be done before you know it.

The first step to your plan is to get organized. Depending on the complexity of your tax return, this can be a quick task or a longer one. If you run a business and must file a Schedule C, you are going to need to allocate some serious time to getting your expenses and revenues together. If you don't run a business, getting your tax documents together can be done in a few minutes since you should only need a W-2 and a few 1099s if you have dividend income or what have you.

It goes without saying that his has been a year for the ages from an economic perspective. I don't mean that in a positive way. What if you just don't have time to deal with your taxes right now as you try to keep everything together in your life? Well, you can file for an extension to file your return. The extension is automatically approved for six months. You want to send in Form 4868 on or before the tax deadline.

Although the extension to file a tax return is automatic, the deadline to actually pay the taxes you owe is still April 15th. This seems a bit strange since one must wonder how you are supposed to know what you owe before preparing your tax return, but who are we to question the government? Just eyeball it and send in the money you think will be owed. You can always get a refund if it is excessive.

Given the current economic climate, you might not have the money to pay your taxes. This is certainly understandable. You should still go ahead and file your tax return. Remember, the return is for 2008, not 2009. You might have a refund due from last year, which would be money you could use. You also might have had serious losses you can use to get a refund. Don't just assume you'll owe.

All is not lost if you do end up owing money for 2008. The IRS is fully aware that people are having problems. The agency will stay with you as long as you stay in the system, which means filing tax returns. The agency may put you on a payment plan or, if you are wiped out financially, the agency may just dismiss the entire tax you owe. The point is the IRS will not just go after what little you have set aside, so don't worry about it.

Tax time can be a stressful period for millions of Americans in the best of times. These are not the best of times. Don't let your taxes get you down. Cut the process up into bite sized chunks and take it one step at a time. You'll be done with the dastardly task before you know it.