Avoid these common tax blunders
By Kay Bell • Bankrate.com

Completing your tax return is like walking through a financial minefield. A miscalculated amount here, a wrong tax ID number there, and boom! Suddenly, instead of getting a check back from Uncle Sam, you have to write one to the U.S. Treasury.

Even if the error doesn't end up costing you any real dollars, it could delay the receipt of any refund you're expecting.

Many people try to reduce the possibility of filing errors by turning their returns over to tax professionals or using computer software. But even in these cases, a close review of your return is critical. In the final inspection you might find something that slipped by you on the computer screen or that your accountant entered incorrectly. Such scrutiny is important since you bear the ultimate responsibility for your tax bill.

10 common tax mistakes Making math blunders Entering wrong ID numbers Ignoring IRS material Picking the wrong 1040 form Omitting some forms Overlooking unearned income Using the wrong tax table Fumbling payment procedures Forgetting to sign the return Missing the deadline

Making math blunders Far and away, says the IRS, the most common mistake on tax returns is bad math. Numbers are transposed, left out or totaled incorrectly. And since a total figured on one tax form or work sheet often is transferred to another form (or forms), that one simple mistake could quickly compound into a very costly miscalculation. Even if you use tax software, you're not off the hook. Sure, the computer program will do the figuring for you, but if you put the wrong numbers in to begin with, the machine won't catch that. So double-check your entries, whether on paper or on your PC.

Kay Bell, a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas, writes two tax blogs, Bankrate's Eye on the IRS, and Don't Mess With Taxes. She currently is a member of the IRS's Taxpayer Advocacy Panel.