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Avoid Common Tax Filing Errors

John Morgan
/
Flickr

This year, taxpayers have an additional three days to get income taxes sent in to the federal government.

April 15 falls on a Saturday, and this would usually move the filing deadline to the following Monday — April 17. However, Emancipation Day — a legal holiday in the District of Columbia — will be observed on that Monday, which pushes the nation’s filing deadline to Tuesday, April 18.

That should give you plenty of time to get your taxes done, on time and correctly, said Edgar Norton, Director of Illinois State University's Institute for Financial Planning and Analysis.

"You have an extra weekend this year, so tax filers should be able to get their returns filed in a timely manner," said Norton. Some of the common mistakes made by filers:

  • Math errors. If you aren't using computer software, be careful to check your addition and subtraction.
  • Computation errors
  • Make sure you have included all your possible tax breaks
  • Get your filing status correct
  • Remember to include additional income, if you made more money during 2016
  • Include all charitable contributions, but don't overvalue them. You are allowed to deduct fair market value, not what you originally paid for the item

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Willis is a Bloomington, IL, native. During his senior year at Bloomington High School, he finished third in the "Radio Speaking" division of the state speech contest, the only year he competed.