Tax Season Tips

Tax Season Tips

Friday, February 14, 2020

Tax season can be tricky to navigate, and mistakes could be costly. Here are a few tips to make your tax season easier and safer.

Wait to file

You should wait to file your taxes until you receive all of your official tax documents. Using end-of-year paycheck stubs may not accurately reflect annual earnings, which could cause your tax return to be incorrect. This may result in having to file an amended return later on, which takes additional time and often costs more money in tax preparation and filing fees.

Avoid Scams

This time of year, there is an increasing number of scams taking place over the phone or by email in order to defraud Hoosiers. Many scammers will identify themselves as representatives of a revenue-related agency such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the Department of Revenue (DOR). These are almost always scams. If you receive a suspicious email, do not click on any links or open attachments coming from the sender. If you receive a phone call, simply hang up. If you need to be contacted by the IRS or DOR, you should receive a letter. For more tips on how to identify, avoid and deal with tax scams, click here.

Utilize INfreefile

Developed in 2003 by the IRS and tax software makers, INfreefile allows lower income customers to file both federal and state taxes free of charge. To view a list of participating software companies, and to find requirements for participation, click here.