Before filing your return, review it to make sure it is correct and complete.
The following checklist may help you avoid errors:
1) 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?
2) 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?
3) 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.
4) Did you check only one filing status?
5) 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?
6) Did you enter income, deductions, and credits on the correct lines and are the totals correct?
7) If you show a negative amount on your return, did you put brackets around it?
8) 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 36
of Form 1040?
9) Did you figure the tax correctly? If you used the
Tax Tables
(graphics version only)
, did you use the correct column for your filing status?
10) Did you sign and date the return? If it is a joint return, did your spouse
also sign and date the return?
11) 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.
12) Did you attach any Forms 1099 that show tax withheld?
13) Did you attach all other necessary schedules and forms in sequence number
order given in the upper right-hand corner?
14) 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?
See Topic 158 for more information.
15) Did you make a copy of the signed return and all schedules for your records?
A few of the most common errors are:
- Incorrect or missing social security numbers.
- Incorrect tax entered from the tables.
- 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.
- Withholding and estimated tax payments entered on the wrong line.
- 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.
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