Many people make mistakes on their tax returns each year. Some forget to include income, while others don’t claim credits they’re entitled to. Don’t worry: you can correct your tax return after filing—and we’ll show you how.
In This Piece
- What Happens if I File My Taxes Wrong?
- How to Amend Your Tax Return
- Common Tax Blunders
- Avoid Making Mistakes This Tax Season
What Happens if I File My Taxes Wrong?
If you make a mistake on your tax return, it’s important to correct it as soon as possible. Several things can happen, depending on who finds the error—you or the IRS—and how you handle it. Let’s look at three common scenarios.
1. You Realize Immediately
Let’s imagine you notice your mistake right away. Your first instinct might be to file a brand-new return—but don’t do that. Instead, follow the instructions we give later to complete an amended return.
2. The IRS Finds Your Mistake
The IRS might notice your mistake and send you a notice to correct your return. If this happens to you, don’t worry. Just complete the appropriate tax form by the deadline written on your notice. It’s that simple.
3. Nobody Finds Your Mistake
If nobody finds your error, your tax return might get processed with the mistake intact. Unfortunately, your oversight might turn up during an IRS audit, and if that happens, you could end up with an unexpected and large tax bill—plus interest.
How to Amend Your Tax Return
Tax amendments aren’t a one-size-fits-all thing. If the IRS sends you a notice, follow its instructions to resolve your mistake. If you notice an error independently, here’s what you need to do.
- Double-check to make sure you really have made a mistake. Taxes can be extremely confusing, and you might not always remember all your calculations.
- Check to see if the IRS has already noticed the issue. If your return has been processed, is your tax refund larger or smaller than expected? The IRS holds 1099-C and W-2 information on file, and it does sometimes correct returns based on known information.
- If you do need to make a correction, file an amended tax return, also known as a Form 1040-X. You can use a 1040-X to submit additional or updated information to the IRS and to attach another form to your tax return.
- Pay any additional tax owed as quickly as possible to avoid accruing interest.
Common Tax Blunders
Tax returns are complex—some more so than others—and they’re easy to get wrong. Even pros miscalculate from time to time. Here are a few of the most common tax blunders.
- Math miscalculations. From a forgotten zero or a decimal point in the wrong place to a simple mistake with the calculator, math miscalculations are common—especially on paper returns. Always double-check your math before submitting your return.
- Forgotten deductions or credits. You might owe more tax than you expect if you forget about a deduction or a credit. The IRS won’t automatically flag this type of thing, so if you realize your mistake, file a Form 1040-X and fix your mistake.
- Not reporting all income. Maybe you forgot about a W-2 or you got a 1099-C or other tax form in the mail after you filed your taxes. In either case, you need to file an amendment to let the IRS know or you risk triggering an audit.
- Lying. Whether bold-faced or sly, lies have no place on tax returns. Exaggerating charitable donations, hiding income deliberately or falsely claiming dependents all amount to tax fraud, which is illegal. If you lie on your taxes, you could face criminal charges.
Will the IRS Correct My Return?
The IRS does sometimes correct returns automatically. If the IRS notices an arithmetic error, for example, it’ll usually fix the oversight and notify the taxpayer.
Avoid Making Mistakes This Tax Season
Most tax filing errors are innocent mistakes. Still, there are things you can do to reduce careless errors and improve accuracy. Here are three tips to help you stay on top of your tax return.
1. Organize Your Finances
Create a filing system for receipts, payments, business miles, and invoices so you don’t have to scramble to retrieve information at tax time. Organized people miss deductions and credits less often.
2. Gather All Your Info Before Filing
Triple-check that you have all the information you need before filing your taxes. If you need extra time to do your taxes, file a six-month extension by April 18, 2022. Make sure you pay the taxes you’ll owe by April 18, though, or they’ll accrue interest—and a tax estimate is much better than nothing.
3. File Your Taxes with a Professional Service
To get the most out of tax season, make sure you use a high-quality tax filing software. Professional services help eliminate errors and ensure you are getting the tax return you deserve.
Mistakes Happen—But Try to Prepare for Tax Season
You’re only human. And taxes can be complicated. If you make a mistake on your taxes, don’t panic. Just do your best to fix it. But if you can, try to avoid making mistakes on your taxes by being as careful as possible.
Don’t rush your taxes this season. Instead, wait until you have all the information you need and file with a highly rated DIY solution. Create a filing system for tax-related documents to keep them straight, and double-check your forms before hitting the submit button.
