7 tax tips to make sure you get the biggest refund, according to financial advisors

Firstly, it’s important to make sure you have all of the documents you’ll need to file, advisors say: That’s W2s and 1099s, yes, but depending on your situation, also 1099-INTs (for interest payments), 1099-Gs (for unemployment payments) and SSA-1099s (for Social Security payments), to name just a few. It’s also important to gather all required documents as soon as possible.

“Waiting until the last minute can lead to unnecessary stress and potential errors,” says Ashton Lawrence, a South Carolina-based CFP at Mariner Wealth Advisors.

From there, review the big changes for 2023, Lawrence suggests. Pretty much all of the COVID-19-related tax changes and benefits weren’t in place last year, which means your refund could be very different from the past few years. Also, the standard deduction, tax brackets, and retirement contributions have all changed.

Then you’re ready to get started. Here are some additional tips from financial advisors on making filing simple and maximizing your refund. (And don’t miss Fortune‘s other tax season coverage.)

1. Max out your 2023 retirement accounts

If you haven’t done so already, you still have time to contribute to a traditional or SEP IRA and reduce your tax. Each year, you have until the filing deadline—April 15, 2024 this year—to max out your contributions.

The max for a traditional IRA last year was $6,500 ($7,500 for those 50 and up) while the max for SEP IRAs, used by some business owners, is much higher—the lesser of 25% of compensation or $66,000.

“These accounts can offer tax-deferred growth on top of pre-tax contributions that can set you up well for retirement and save you a lot on taxes right now,” says Bryan Cassick, a CFP at…