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GREENSBORO -- With the holidays and the current tax year winding down, experts say now's the time to get ready for tax season. It's an investment that could save you money and stress when you file your 2011 return.

One of the most important things you can do to make things easier and pay as little tax as you're legally required to pay is to get your records together.

"Documentation, documentation, documentation,” said Jacques Jones, manager of three Liberty Tax Service franchises in Greensboro. “Anything that you have to back up what you're stating on your tax return. Obviously, your tax return is building a picture of your financial situation."

The Internal Revenue Service has a publication to help make sure you have what you need at the ready.

“It's IRS publication 552,” said IRS spokesperson Mark Hanson. “It's called record keeping for individuals. You can download that publication and read it at the irs.gov website. It's going to help you make sure you get your records together for when you file."

And speaking of records, you'll need to hang on to them, some for longer than others.

"You should keep your return and all documents associated with it for at least three years,” Hanson said. “Other items, like the purchase or sale of a home or stock or other documents you might want to consider keeping a little bit longer."

Jones said one of the biggest misconceptions he sees year after year is who qualifies as a dependant.

"There are certain tests that have to be passed in order for a person to be filed on your tax return,” he said. “There's an age test. There's an income test. There's a support test."

Jones advised taking a conservative approach to what you claim on your return. He said it will buy you piece of mind and, in the long run, with the potential for penalties, save you lots of money.

"Everybody knows Uncle Sam's going to get his due,” Jones said. “Your best bet is to play it safe and make sure that you're covered."