With three days left to file your income tax return, here are the top 10 tips the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know if you’re still working on your tax return:
1. E-file your return. Your tax return will get processed quickly if you use e-file. E-file is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you file electronically and choose to have your tax refund deposited directly into your bank account, you’ll have your money about 10 days. Two out of three taxpayers, 95 million, use e-filing.
2. Review tax ID numbers. Remember to carefully check identification numbers on your return.
3. Double-check your figures. Whether you are filing electronically or by paper, review all the amounts you transferred over from your Forms W-2 or 1099.
4. Review your math. Taxpayers filing paper returns should also double-check that they have correctly figured the refund or balance due and have used the right figure from the tax table.
5. Sign and date your return. Both spouses must sign a joint return, even if only one had income. Anyone paid to prepare a return must also sign it.
6. Choose Direct Deposit. To receive your refund quicker, select Direct Deposit and the IRS will deposit your refund directly into your bank account.
7. How to make a payment. People sending a payment should make the check out to "United States Treasury" and should enclose it with, but not attach it to, the tax return or the Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher, if used. Write your name, address, Social Security number, telephone number, tax year, and form number on the check or money order. If you file electronically, you can file and pay in a single step by authorizing an electronic funds withdrawal. Whether you file a paper return or file electronically, you can pay by phone or online using a credit or debit card. Visit IRS.gov for more information on payment options.
8. File an extension. Taxpayers who won’t be able to file a return by the April 15 deadline should request an extension of time to file. Remember, the extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay.
9. Visit the IRS Web site for information. IRS.gov has forms, publications, and information on a variety of tax subjects.
10. Review your return…one more time. Before you seal the envelope or hit send, go over all the information on your return again. Errors may delay the processing of your return, so it’s best for you to make sure everything on your return is correct.
