Data Entries
The numbers to check most carefully on the tax return are the
identification numbers — usually Social Security numbers — for each
person listed. This includes the taxpayer, spouse, dependents and
persons listed in relation to claims for the Child Care or Earned Income
Tax Credits. Missing, incorrect or illegible SSNs can delay or reduce a
tax refund.
Taxpayers should also check that they have correctly figured the refund
or balance due and have used the right figure from the tax table.
Child Tax Credit
Those claiming the Child Tax Credit Tax should be sure to subtract last
year’s Advance Child Tax Credit when figuring the Credit. There’s a
worksheet for this in the instructions for Forms 1040 and 1040A and in
IRS Publication 972, “Child Tax Credit.”
Preparing the Return
Taxpayers must sign and date their returns. Both spouses must sign a
joint return, even if only one had income. Anyone who is paid to prepare
a return must also sign it.
The only attachments that should be at the front of the tax return are:
Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement
Form W-2G, Certain Gambling Winnings
Form 1099-R, Distributions from Pensions, Annuities, Retirement or
Profit-Sharing Plans, IRAs, insurance Contracts, Etc.
Form 2439, Notice to Shareholder of Undistributed Long-Term Capital
Gains or
Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request
All other required forms and schedules should be behind the Form 1040 or
1040A, in the attachment sequence order listed in the upper right of the
returns.
Direct Deposit of Refunds
People expecting a refund should consider direct deposit of the refund
to their bank account. Choosing direct deposit is the best way to guard
against having a tax refund misplaced or stolen. A word of caution —
some financial institutions do not allow a joint refund to be deposited
into an individual account. Check with your bank or other financial
institution to make sure your direct deposit will be accepted. Also,
make sure you enter the correct nine-digit routing number for your
financial institution and your correct account number when selecting
direct deposit. Wrong numbers can cause your refund to be misdirected or
delayed.
Paying by Check
People sending a payment should make the check out to "United States
Treasury” and should enclose it with, but not attach it to, the tax
return or the Form 1040-V payment voucher, if used. The check should
include the taxpayer’s SSN, daytime phone number, the tax year and the
type of form filed.
Mailing a Paper Return
Those who don’t e-file may use the U.S. Postal Service or one of the
designated private delivery services to send their forms to the IRS by
the deadline. The tax form instructions list these private delivery
services, which are offered by four companies: Airborne Express, DHL
Worldwide Express, Federal Express (FedEx) and United Parcel Service
(UPS).
Extension of Time to File
By April 15, taxpayers should either file a return or request a
four-month extension of time to file, which will give them until August
15. The extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay.
The extension may be requested by calling toll free 1-888-796-1074, by
e-filing a Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to
File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, that is included in most tax
preparation software, or by sending a paper Form 4868 to the IRS.
Taxpayers are not required to make a payment to get the extension.
Taxpayers who request an extension by phone or computer and who wish to
make a tax payment will need the adjusted gross income from their 2002
return.
Taxpayers who choose to charge an extension-related payment to a credit
card through one of the two processors do not have to file Form 4868 to
get an extension. Official Payments Corporation may be reached at
1-800-2PAY-TAX (1-800-272-9829), or at www.officialpayments.com.
Link2Gov, Inc., may be reached at 1-888-PAY-1040 (1-888-729-1040) or at
www.pay1040.com. There is no IRS fee for credit card payments, but the
processors charge a convenience fee.
IRS Resources
This Web site has forms and publications available for downloading,
links to private sector e-file partners, and helpful information on a
variety of tax subjects. The toll-free IRS customer assistance help
number for individuals, 1-800-829-1040, is available from 7:00 a.m. to
10:00 p.m. weekdays and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays from
January 24 though April 10 (all times are local, except for Alaska and
Hawaii, which should use Pacific Time).
Related Articles:
Cut 2004 Taxes
7 ways to cut 2004 Taxes
Tax Return Preparer Fraud
IRS Advice for Last Minute Tax
Filing
Tax Tips-Last Minute Filers
Tax Filing
Requirements
Avoid IRS Tax Audit
|
