IRS Warning: 7 Simple Mistakes That Can Derail Your Tax Returns

Do you still need to file your tax return? Even with less than two weeks left until Tax Day, you’re probably not alone, although it might leave you hurrying. If that’s the case, don’t rush so much that you fall into the trap of easy mistakes that could be costly.

As of last week, the IRS reported processing 78 million tax returns, resulting in $179 billion being issued across 55 million refunds. As big as those numbers are, it’s still not everyone. Maybe other responsibilities piled up or maybe your financial situation is complicated and it takes time to get all your income sorted. I’m certainly not one to judge — I haven’t finished them yet, either.

If that’s the case, you’ll want to make sure to avoid any mistakes that might delay your return getting processed, and lucky for us, the IRS just released a guidance detailing some of the more common flubs you’ll want to avoid. Keep reading for all the details, and for more tips to speed up your taxes, check out the enhancements made to the Direct File program this year. Also, check out CNET’s 2025 list of the best tax filing software on the market, to help you file quickly and avoid mistakes.

Don’t mess up your Social Security number

Entering the wrong SSN or forgetting to enter it altogether is a big one. You’ll want to make sure you include it when filing and that it matches exactly what’s on your Social Security card.

Get your name right

Maybe a little harder to mess this one up than your SSN, but mistakes love to pop up when you’re the most confident in yourself. The IRS specifically advises that your name be listed on your tax return the same way that it appears on your Social Security card.

Get your filing status right

If you think multiple filing statuses might apply to your tax situation, the IRS advises you to use their Interactive Tax Assistant to help find the correct one. If a government shutdown hasn’t closed up the agency’s customer support services, you might also try reaching out directly.

Know which credits and deductions you qualify for

Speaking of that interactive assistant, it can also help determine whether you qualify for certain tax credits or deductions. Attempting to claim ones you’re not actually eligible for is a surefire way to throw a wrench into the process.

Always make sure you’ve done the math right

Maybe you won’t need much geometry in your adult life but everything else your math teacher said was probably right. You’ll want to be as sure as possible that you’ve done all math correctly on your return before filing, as IRS data indicates that upward of 2 million returns have math errors every year. 

This error is another reason why most experts will advise that you use e-filing software to prepare your tax return, because it can catch and correct most math errors you might make.

Get your bank account numbers right

Choosing to receive your tax refund via direct deposit — or to pay off your tax dues directly from your bank account — is one of the most recommended ways to speed up your filing process. You’ll want to ensure you’ve correctly listed your routing and account numbers.

As the experts at the accounting firm Mowery & Schoenfeld point out, incorrect banking info can not only lead to delays in getting your refund but potentially “in worst-case scenarios, [the IRS] depositing funds into the wrong account,” which is a whole other level of unpleasantness to fix.

Make sure you’ve signed what you need to

The IRS can’t accept your return if you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) haven’t signed it. Even when someone else prepares your return, you still have to sign it, so don’t let that step or the process slip by you. Filing electronically helps with a lot of things but it’s particularly useful here because you can sign it digitally.

This signature is what legally binds you to your return in the end and makes you liable for correcting any mistakes you might’ve made, such as the ones above. Speaking with CNET via email previously, Jassen Bowman, a tax expert and enrolled IRS agent, laid out how this signature even leaves you liable for the slip-ups of others.

“Under federal law, the consumer is always responsible for the content of their return. That’s why you still have to sign it yourself, saying it’s accurate, even if you pay a professional to do it,” Bowman wrote. “The vast majority of the time, preparers are ethical and will tax responsibility … but I’ve definitely seen situations where the preparer did not take responsibility because they said the taxpayer failed to mention something or provide a document.”

Chatting with CNET more recently, Bowman stressed that while mistakes on your taxes are never fun, you shouldn’t let them freak you out too much.

“Making a mistake on a tax return isn’t the end of the world. Yes, the taxpayer is ultimately held responsible for filing an accurate and complete return, but honest mistakes happen, and the IRS understands that,” Bowman wrote in an email. “Once the IRS accepts your tax return, their computer systems do still more data matching and error checking later on. In fact, your return may be selected for human review. If any errors are detected during these automated or manual processes, the IRS will send you a notice. If they catch a math error, they will often correct it for you, and send you a notice saying they fixed it and asking if you agree with it or want to dispute it. Other types of errors, such missing income from a W-2, will result in a similar notice, and an opportunity to respond. The IRS sends out millions of notices like this each year, so this is not an uncommon challenge, so the IRS is accustomed to working with people that have errors on their returns.”