It is expected that every adult of working age will file a return annually, and many choose the convenience of e-filing their taxes online. It is also likely that there will be many errors made by tax filers during the process. Every mistake identified by tax professionals has varying consequences, so it is essential to avoid them. The mistakes may be due to changes that are made to the tax law, missed tax credits, or mistakes concerning personal information, but checking your return against the following list of common errors helps to avoid common mistakes before sending your return.

This article will focus on the common tax filing mistakes that may be avoided:

1. Using the incorrect filing status 

The filing status is very significant in the filing of tax returns. In a case where a mistake like choosing the status to be the head of the household rather than single the error will result in more deductions. The mistake should also be avoided as changing the status after filing the return will mean online return filing and emended paper return. The status also disqualifies the person from some deductions and credits.

2. Entering incorrect information

Wrong information entered is common and may result in your tax return being rejected, especially if your filing taxes online. These electronic tax return systems often detect incorrect information like a social security number or a misspelled name. The tax software system, however, detects only the information that does not match with the information already in the system. It is vitally important to check and avoid the mistake at all costs because some details like the bank account can only be detected after being rejected by the bank. The error can only be corrected approximately seven weeks later,which will delay your return and any return payment due.

3. Forgetting to file a return

This is the mistake that most people tend to repeat. Not filing a return may occur because an individual does not earn enough income or due to age. Some tax professionals, however, advise that everyone should make sure they are e-filing taxes online because there may be a refundable credit to be claimed. So even if your income is low or you’re unemployed, you should still file a yearly return.

4. Missing a new credit introduced by the tax law

Many people are not aware of the new credits that may be introduced every single year. With the help of a tax professional, like H&R Block, or a personal accountant, you may take advantage of all the tax refund credits available to you that tax year. For example, tax credits may include education credits or valuable credits for those who do not earn a lot of income due to unemployment or a partner being on maternity leave.