Before filing your tax return you should review your tax return for possible errors which may delay your refund. Here are the most common errors:

• Failure to sign the tax return. If you are married filing a joint return both taxpayers are required to sign and date the tax return.

• Failure to list the correct social security number for the taxpayer or dependents.

• Not listing the correct filing status of single, married filing joint, married filing separately, head of household and qualifying widow with dependent child.

• Not reporting all interest, dividends and 1099 income.

• Math errors and transposing numbers such as listing actual income of $32,570 as $37,520

• Not claiming tax credits or calculating the credits incorrectly.

• Failure to properly calculate the Alternative Minimum Tax – ATM.

• Not filing and paying the income tax on time. This will cost you significant penalties and interest on the tax balance due. In fact, the failure to file penalty is calculated at 5% a month or part of the month for a maximum penalty of 25% of the tax liability after five months. The failure to pay penalty is calculated at ½ of 1 % a month on the unpaid taxes due. These penalties add up quickly.

• For tax returns that are mailed to the IRS as opposed to being electronically filed to the IRS, the most common mistake is not to attach all the W-2 forms to the tax return. If the W-2’s are not attached to the original tax return IRS will mail the tax return back to you.

• Not filing a tax return for a refund. Taxpayers have three years from the due date of April 15, (not including extensions) to file a tax return in order to receive a tax refund. If the tax return is not filed within the three year period the refund will be forever lost.