| Preparing your own Federal Income Tax return can be | | | | the totals correct?o If you have a negative amount on |
| very tricky and time consuming. It's even scarier when | | | | your income tax return, did you put brackets around |
| you think that if you make a mistake, you may very | | | | it?o Did you figure the tax correctly? If you used the |
| well hear about it from the IRS somewhere down the | | | | tax tables, did you use the correct column for your |
| road. You may even owe money because of that | | | | filing status (for example, married filing jointly) to |
| mistake! | | | | determine your taxes?o Did you sign and date your |
| Preventing these mistakes in the first place is the | | | | return? If it is a joint return, your spouse must also sign |
| smart way to go when you are preparing your own | | | | and date the income tax return.o Did you remember to |
| federal income tax return. To help you with this, here is | | | | attach Copy B of Form W-2 for each job to your |
| a list of the most common mistakes made by people | | | | income tax return?o If you have any income tax |
| preparing their own federal income tax return:o If you | | | | withheld from Form 1099-R, did you remember to |
| used the peel-off label that came with the blank return | | | | attach a copy of the form to the return?o If you owed |
| sent to you by the IRS, did you make any corrections | | | | tax, did you remember to enclose a check and put |
| as needed, and did you remember to write in your | | | | your social security number, tax form and year on |
| social security number in the space provided?o Did | | | | your payment?o And last but not least: Did you |
| you enter your name, the name of your spouse and | | | | remember to make a copy of the signed income tax |
| any dependents EXACTLY as they appear on their | | | | return and all schedules for your records? |
| respective social security cards? If there have been | | | | Be sure to double check all addition and subtraction on |
| any name changes, you must notify the social security | | | | the tax return. Math errors are one of the most |
| administration immediately ( or 800-772-1213).o Did you | | | | frequent mistakes reported by the IRS. You may want |
| check only ONE filing status (i.e., married filing jointly, | | | | to consider purchasing a tax preparation software |
| etc.)?o Did you check the appropriate exemption | | | | program, rather than just preparing you income tax |
| boxes, and enter the dependents' names and social | | | | return via pen and paper. These tax software |
| security numbers exactly as they appear on their | | | | programs are very inexpensive, especially when |
| social security cards?o Did you enter income, | | | | compared with having your return done by an |
| deductions and credits on the appropriate lines, and are | | | | accountant, and they usually guarantee all calculations. |