How To Avoid Common Mistakes

Mistakes can delay your refund or result in notices being sent to you. One of the best ways to file an accurate return is to file electronically. Tax software does the math for you and will help you avoid mistakes. Free File provides eligible taxpayers the ability to file their taxes electronically for free. See IRS.gov/FreeFile for details and to see if you are eligible.

File your return on a standard size sheet of paper. Cutting the paper may cause problems in processing your return.

Make sure you entered the correct name and social security number (SSN) for each dependent you claim in the Dependents section. Check that each dependent’s name and SSN agrees with the dependent’s social security card. For each child under age 17 who is a qualifying child for the child tax credit or each dependent who qualifies you for the credit for other dependents, make sure you checked the appropriate box on row (7) of the Dependents section.

Check your math, especially for the child tax credit, earned income credit (EIC), taxable social security benefits, total income, itemized deductions or standard deduction, taxable income, total tax, federal income tax withheld, and refund or amount you owe.

Be sure you used the correct method to figure your tax. See the instructions for line 16.

Be sure to enter your SSN in the space provided on page 1 of Form 1040 or 1040-SR. If you are married filing a joint or separate return, also enter your spouse’s SSN. Be sure to enter your SSN in the space next to your name. Check that your name and SSN agree with your social security card.

Make sure your name and address are correct. Enter your (and your spouse’s) name in the same order as shown on your last return.

If you live in an apartment, be sure to include your apartment number in your address.

If you are taking the standard deduction, see the instructions for line 12e to be sure you entered the correct amount.

If you received capital gain distributions but weren’t required to file Schedule D, make sure you checked the box on line 7b.

If you are taking the EIC, be sure you used the correct column of the EIC Table for your filing status and the number of qualifying children you have who have valid SSNs.

Remember to sign and date Form 1040 or 1040-SR and enter your occupation(s).

Attach your Form(s) W-2 and other required forms and schedules. Put all forms and schedules in the proper order. See Assemble Your Return , earlier.

If you owe tax and are paying by check or money order, be sure to include all the required information on your payment. See the instructions for line 37 for details.

Make sure to check Where Do You File? before mailing your return. Over the next several years, the IRS will be reducing the number of paper tax return processing sites. Because of this, you may need to mail your return to a different address than you have in the past. You can also file electronically.

Don’t file more than one original return for the same year, even if you haven’t gotten your refund or haven’t heard from the IRS since you filed. Filing more than one original return for the same year, or sending in more than one copy of the same return (unless we ask you to do so), could delay your refund.

Make sure that if you, your spouse with whom you are filing a joint return, or your dependent was enrolled in Marketplace coverage, and advance payments of the premium tax credit were made for the coverage, that you attach Form 8962. For tax years other than 2020, you may have to repay excess advance payments, even if someone else enrolled you, your spouse, or your dependent in the Marketplace coverage. Excess advance payments may also have to be repaid if you enrolled someone in Marketplace coverage, you don’t claim that individual as a dependent, and no one else claims that individual as a dependent. See the instructions for Schedule 2, line 1a, and the Instructions for Form 8962. You or whoever enrolled you should have received Form 1095-A from the Marketplace with information about who was covered and any advance payments of the premium tax credit.