With Tax Day around the corner, it’s a good time to highlight the costliest mistakes that tax experts say we make in filing our taxes. Since 2009, United Ways across the country have helped some 1.3 million people nationwide save $260 million in filing fees, and bring back more than $1.9 billion in refunds to local communities through MyFreeTaxes.com.

United Way of 1000 Lakes is committed to ensuring that people in and around Itasca County can easily and accurately file their taxes to receive the refunds and credits they deserve. Using MyFreeTaxes®, you can file state and federal returns for free.

MyFreeTaxes is the largest free, online tax filing product offered by a nonprofit. United Way makes this service available as part of our fight for the financial stability of every person in every community.

In addition to using MyFreeTaxes when filing returns, tax experts offer the following tips to minimize mistakes and to maximize your refund this tax season.

1. Choose Carefully

One of the most common mistakes taxpayers make is selecting the wrong filing status. That can affect the credits and deductions you’re eligible for, the value of your standard deduction, and even your tax bracket. When life gets complicated, taxes get more complicated, too.

For example, if a taxpayer with children is getting divorced, they may not be sure if they should file as “married filing jointly” or “married filing separately” or whether they qualify to file as head of household. MyFreeTaxes can help answer those questions. Use the Helpline to talk to a real person trained by the IRS. MyFreeTaxes’ Helpline is open from 9 am – 9 pm CST daily to clarify things like filing status. Just call 1-866-698-9435.

2. Check Yourself

Always double-check the basics on your tax returns and make sure your name and the names of your spouse and/or dependents and Social Security numbers are right. Make sure to double-check the information you’ve pulled from your W-2 — transposing numbers or entering numbers in the wrong fields are common errors.

3. Find What You’ve Got Coming

Nearly 5 million Americans leave an average of $3,000 each on the table each year by failing to claim common deductions and exemptions. MyFreeTaxes automatically screens for credit and deduction eligibility for things like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit and also lets you claim any missed stimulus payments.

Nearly 20% of eligible people don’t claim the EITC. Depending on income and number of kids, that could mean leaving $500 to $6,000 on the table. You may think you can’t get the EITC if you don’t earn enough money to file a return. Wrong. The EITC is a refundable credit, so even if you don’t owe taxes, you can still get the EITC. Check it out on MyFreeTaxes.com!

4. School Yourself

Education credits are another often-overlooked benefit. Depending on the kind of academic program, what year the student is in, income, and other restrictions, a student may use the American Opportunity Credit of up to $2,500 or the Lifetime Learning Credit of up to $2,000. And know that MyFreeTaxes software screens for that automatically as it guides you through your returns.

 

Providing no-cost tax assistance is just one way that United Way works to improve the financial stability of Itasca-area communities. To learn more about our work to improve financial standing and meet basic needs, visit uwlakes.org/our-work/income.

 

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