Checklist of Common Errors When Preparing Your Tax Return

Before filing your return, review it to make sure it is correct and complete. The following checklist may help you avoid errors:

Enter corrections

Did you use the peel–off label and enter any corrections? If you used the label, did you enter your social security number in the space provided?

Print clearly

If you do not have a label, or there are too many corrections, did you clearly print your name, social security number, and address, including zip code directly on your return?

Social security numbers

Did you enter the names and social security numbers for yourself, your spouse, your dependents, and qualifying children for earned income credit, exactly as they appear on the social security cards? If there have been any name changes be sure to contact the Social Security Administration at 1–800–772–1213.

Filing status

Did you check only one filing status?

Exemptions

Did you check the appropriate exemption boxes and enter the names and social security numbers exactly as they appear on the Social Security Card, for all of the dependents claimed? Is the total number of exemptions entered?

Totals

Did you enter income, deductions, and credits on the correct lines and are the totals correct?

Negative amounts

If you show a negative amount on your return, did you put brackets around it?

Age 65 or older or blind

If you are taking the standard deduction and checked any box indicating either you or your spouse was age 65 or older or blind, did you find the correct amount to enter on line 21 of Form 1040A or line 39 of Form 1040?

Figuring the tax

Did you figure the tax correctly? If you used the IRS Tax Tables, did you use the correct column for your filing status?

Signing the forms

Did you sign and date the return? If it is a joint return, did your spouse also sign and date the return?

W-2 forms

Do you have a W–2 form from all of your employers and did you attach all copies of Copy B to your return? File only one return, even if you have more than one job.

1099 forms

Did you attach any Forms 1099 that show tax withheld?

Attachments

Did you attach all other necessary schedules and forms in sequence number order given in the upper right–hand corner?

Owing taxes

If you owe tax, did you enclose a check or money order with the return and write your social security number, tax form, and tax year on the payment?

Copies

Did you make a copy of the signed return and all schedules for your records?

A few of the most common errors

1. Incorrect or missing social security numbers.
2. Incorrect tax entered from the tables.
3. Computation errors in figuring the child and dependent care credit or the earned income credit. Also, missing or incorrect identification numbers for child care providers.
4. Withholding and estimated tax payments entered on the wrong line.
5. Math errors — both addition and subtraction.

It is important that you review your entire return because any errors may delay the processing of your return. Excerpted from Taxpayer Help and Education from the Internal Revenue Service. Contact the Internal Revenue Service for more information.