A tax refund can be a great cash flow. If you hope to receive your check as soon as possible, filing your tax return correctly is essential.
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Taking a few extra minutes to make sure your tax return is flawless can help expedite things with the IRS. Keep reading to learn five common tax mistakes that can delay your refund.
According to the IRS it takes up to 21 days to process an electronically filed tax return – and up to six weeks for a paper return. However, this is not the only reason to file electronically.
Filing electronically and having your money deposited back into your bank account can also reduce your risk of fraud, said Joseph Perry, CPA, national tax director at CBIZ.
“Even government checks can be fraudulently cashed,” he said. If a paper check is lost or stolen, it will take longer to get your money, he said.
Read next: 5 Taxpayers’ Mistakes Most Americans Don’t Know About
Failing to report a name change to the Social Security office and using the new name on your return will be an issue, Perry said. Your name and number must match what the government has in its records, he said.
This rule also applies to dependents. If you have a child during the taxable year, he advises double-checking the Social Security number on your return against the number on their Social Security card.
If your tax return doesn’t add up, the IRS must adjust it, which can add extra time, said Lisa Green-Lewis, CPA, tax expert at TurboTax.
“If the IRS discovers that you made an accounting error, they will adjust your return and send you a correction letter notifying you of the change,” she said.
“When two people claim the same dependency and try to claim deductions and credits related to the dependency, only one person can claim and receive the tax benefits.” Green Lewis said. “I always encourage parents who are not together to discuss who gets to claim their child, because only one can claim.”
One of the returns will be rejected if both parents file the return claiming the same dependency, she said.
“Claiming a credit or deduction you don’t qualify for or one that requires more information from the IRS may delay your refund, as the IRS may need more information related to claiming the deduction or credit,” Green-Lewis said.
