It's tax season. It might not be as charming as engagement season — or as worrisome as divorce season — but it's a crucial and unavoidable part of the year.
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The No. 1 way people mess up their taxes, according to an accountant
Don't let proofreading errors delay your tax return.
However, if you're not meticulous, you could be losing money that's rightfully yours — or forcing your long-awaited tax return to be delayed.
John McCarthy, a certified public accountant and president of McCarthy Tax Preparation, which provides tax preparation and bookkeeping services to people and small businesses, commonly sees clients mess up their taxes through a small, but avoidable, mistake.
"The number one mistake that I see is proofreading errors," McCarthy told Business Insider. "The IRS verifies your tax return against information they receive from employers, banks, and the Social Security Administration. It pays to spend a few extra minutes proofreading and comparing your tax documents to your return."
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Aim to file your taxes well before April 15, so you have time to go over everything with a fine-toothed comb, from ensuring you didn't neglect an important form to double checking all your arithmetic.
Here's a helpful guide for troubleshooting common proofreading errors that befall hastily done taxes.
And if thoroughly proofreading all of your paperwork sounds tedious, just remember McCarthy's wise words: "Nothing holds up your tax refund faster than an incorrect Social Security number."
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