8 Last-Minute Tax Filing Tips – Technologist

With April 15—the last day to submit your tax return for 2023—looming, you might be feeling pressure to get your return filed accurately and on time. But don’t stress: These last-minute tax tips can help you handle Tax Day like a pro and potentially help save you some cash and trouble along the way.

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1. File on Time

For your returns to be considered “on time”—so you won’t face late filing penalties, not to mention interest on what you owe—you’ll need to either electronically file or mail your returns by midnight on April 15, 2024. That means you’ll need to get a timestamp (for e-filed returns) or a postmark (for mailed returns) showing April 15. If you won’t be able to file on time for any reason, be sure to file a tax extension.

Gail Rosen, a CPA in Martinsville, N.J., says to remember that an extension for filing a tax return isn’t an extension of time to pay any tax you may owe. If you don’t pay by the due date, you may be subject to penalties and interest on the amount you owe.

“Penalties plus interest are a very expensive interest rate on a loan,” says Rosen. “So don’t look at an extension as a way of putting off the inevitable pain of paying.”

2. File for Free if You Can

The IRS estimates that 70% of American taxpayers qualify to file their taxes for free with one of the many IRS Free File partners. If you’re worried about getting zapped by a forced upgrade fee at popular online tax filing sites such as TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxSlayer, check to see if you qualify to file for free (including a free state tax return) before you start inputting your financial information.

3. Double-Check Your Deductions

If you feel confident about the deductions your online tax software found for your return, that’s fantastic. But Eric Bronnenkant, head of tax at Betterment, says there are two prime—but often overlooked—opportunities for deductions, especially if you have some extra cash on hand: IRA deductions and HSA deductions.

Make an IRA Contribution

“Maxing out the traditional or Roth IRA by April 15 is a great way to save money for the long term,” says Bronnenkant, highlighting a popular type of retirement savings account. “The 2023 contribution limit for [IRAs] is $6,500 for individuals under 50 and $7,500 for individuals 50 and older.”

Making a contribution to a traditional IRA can reduce your tax bill, because those contributions are made pre-tax. Roth IRA contributions aren’t tax-deductible, but they can still help you max out the annual IRS limits for retirement savings, pumping up your account balance and giving that money more time to grow.

Max Out Your Health Savings Account (HSA)

Maxing out your HSA before the deadline increases the tax-free pool of funds you’ll have in reserve for medical expenses. “The HSA is triple-tax-advantaged as the contributions are pre-tax, earnings are tax-deferred, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free,” Bronnenkant says. The funds also roll over from year to year.

If you have some cash to spare, you can potentially reduce your tax liability by maxing out your HSA and increasing your deductions. The 2023 contribution limit for taxpayers covered by a high-deductible health plan is $3,850 for single individuals and $7,750 for families. Each spouse who is 55 or older adds another $1,000 to the contribution limit.

4. Don’t Forget To Include Unemployment Benefits

Even if you’ve already paid taxes on your unemployment benefits, you need to report that income on your tax return.

“Many people forget that they may have collected just one or two checks,” says Tatiana Tsoir, a CPA and finance coach. “These still need to be accounted for.”

Failing to report your unemployment income can potentially cause your tax return to be rejected, as your tax return income won’t match your income as reported to the IRS.

5. Check for Simple Mistakes

While online tax prep software can review your return for glaring mistakes, it can’t check for typos. Here’s a list of important questions to ask to make sure your return is in tip-top shape before filing:

  • Did you spell your name correctly?
  • Is your Social Security number correct?
  • Did you correctly enter your employer’s EIN (employer identification number) from your 1099 or W2 onto your return?
  • If you’re filing a paper return, are your calculations correct?
  • Are your bank routing and account numbers correct?
  • If you’re filing by mail, did you sign and date your return?

Compare the best tax software of 2024

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6. E-File for the Fastest Refund

If you opt to file a paper tax return, it could delay your refund for weeks or months. Adam Wood, co-founder of Revenue Geeks, says your best bet for a speedy refund is to file electronically. Even if you don’t expect a refund, it’s best to e-file for prompt processing of your return.

7. Mail Your Return to the Right Address

If you still want to mail in a paper tax return, be sure you’re sending it to the correct address. You can search for the correct address for your return type and state on the IRS website.

8. Track Your Return and Refund Online

Once you file your return, you don’t have to wonder what happens. You can create an online account with the IRS to track your return and refund status.

There’s an online guide to help you set up your account. Once you’ve done that, you can log in to see the exact status of your return, check on any balance you might owe and even sign up to receive notifications when the status of your account changes (for example, when your return has been completely processed).

If you simply want to track your refund, you can use the IRS Where’s My Refund? tool. You’ll need your Social Security number or taxpayer identification number (TIN), your filing status as listed on your return and the exact dollar amount of your refund.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the different tax filing statuses?

The IRS has five different tax filing statuses: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household and qualifying widow(er). Your marital status, dependents and other factors determine your correct filing status for the year.

When does the 2024 tax filing season start?

The IRS launched the 2024 tax filing season on January 29, 2024, when it began accepting 2023 tax returns.

What income is not considered taxable by the IRS?

Generally, the IRS requires you to include as taxable income all the money you make, unless specifically exempted by law. Some income types that are usually considered nontaxable include child support, alimony, gifts and life insurance proceeds. You should speak with a tax professional to determine if all of the income you’ve received should be reported on your tax return.

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