Great Info Tips

There are basically 6 mistakes you should try to avoid. Don’t rush to complete your tax forms because that may mean the difference between getting your refund quickly or very late.

1) Don’t be sloppy. If you do your return by hand make sure your names and numbers are clearly printed. Messy returns cause a lot of hassles and will need to be returned for clarification. If you do you return online you can avoid this problem.

2) When mailing your return make sure you do it by certified mail. Having the receipt if your proof of mailing your return. And make sure you make a copy of your return for your own files. If you do your return online, make sure you file it, but also make a printed copy. This way if you have a problem with your computer and lose the files, you will still have a copy of your return.

3) Itemize! It may mean a higher refund for you, but if you do itemize and it doesn’t work out for you to do itemizing, at least you will have the paperwork proof that you tried. And make sure your deductions are valid.You don’t want to have to pay any extra.

4) Don’t declare someone who isn’t your dependent. This can cause even more problems if you fib.
Children under 18 or those who are still in school are considered dependents. A full time student up to age 24 can still be considered a dependent.

5) You still need to file, even if you owe money to the IRS. You can set up a payment plan with them if necessary. Submit your return, paying what you can when you send it into the IRS. You can call the customer service hotline at 800-829-1040 or go to irs.gov to get form 9465. There may be a fee for setting up this plan to pay back, but at least you won’t have to pay the whole thing at one time.

6) When you have completed your return, read over it more than once to make sure everything is correct. When you are ready to send your return, make sure you have signed and dated it. Make sure your enclose all necessary paperwork, including the form from your place of employment. Failure to include this could result in a lot of hassles and a very late refund for you as the government will have to send back your paperwork for the necessary forms and signatures.