Most Common Tax Mistakes

— -- So you've gathered all of your tax material and have done your best to put it all together. But before you send it in, be sure to check it.

"Some of the most common errors we see are incorrect Social Security numbers on the return, for the taxpayer, the spouse, and especially for the child," said Don Roberts of the IRS.

Roberts advises taxpayers to double-check Social Security numbers to make sure they are right.

"Check it against the Social Security card that was issued," said Roberts. "Another error we see a lot is getting the wrong tax from the tax table. Use a ruler to draw a line across on the income line. Make sure you're going down the right column for your filing status, so that you get the tax right."

Roberts says people seem to add better than they subtract.

"When you're making the subtraction to see whether you've got a refund or a balance due, you're subtracting the amount you paid and what your tax is. Double-check that subtraction. We find that subtractions generate more errors than additions do," Roberts said.

If you figure your taxes on the worksheet, double-check after you copy those numbers onto the return. Finally, don't forget to sign it before you send it in.

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