For me, completing my return is a six-step ritual each year:
- First, I download e-Tax and do a trial run, based on what’s prepopulated and some estimates. The promise of a refund then usually inspires me to complete step 2
- Second, I sort out my paperwork for the year, which is often stacks of accumulated material organised by date – i.e., the oldest stuff is at the bottom of the stack!
- Third, I do a full run-through of the tax return, answering all the material and identifying any documentation gaps