Have you filed your taxes yet? Here’s how to avoid making the most common mistakes

A page from the Internal Revenue Service website is shown on a laptop on Monday, April1, 2024 in New York. Taxpayers usually know their identity has been stolen when they try to file their tax returns and the IRS says they've already done so. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan) (Peter Morgan, Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Taxes are due a week from today, April 15, and a mistake can be costly.

An expert with the IRS joined The Morning Show to explain the most common mistakes people make when filing at the last minute, which include:

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  • Names, birthdates and social security numbers
  • Filing status
  • Incorrect banking routing and account numbers

Filing an extension?

Alejandra Castro, IRS, said you should file an extension if you do not think you can get all the paperwork you need to file, together in time for the April 15 deadline. While you still have to pay your taxes by that deadline, if you cannot pay all of what you owe, the IRS will work with you.

”You can make a partial payment. You can do a payment plan,” she said. “Actually you can set that up online at IRS.gov, but I recommend that you file timely. You pay as much as you can, even if it’s just partial, then call and let us know you want to do a payment plan.”

The IRS is offering a pilot program to Floridians called Direct File. It is free and provides an opportunity for filers to ask the IRS questions to help them file. It is only available to filers with simple returns.

Click here to learn more.


About the Author

Jennifer, who anchors The Morning Shows and is part of the I-TEAM, loves working in her hometown of Jacksonville.

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