Tax Tips for Procrastinators: The Top 8 Last-Minute Filing Blunders
by
Barbara Thau
Apr 11th 2012 4:45PM
Updated Apr 11th 2012 4:59PM

Haste makes waste: It's an adage that best describes the fate that often befalls last-minute taxpayers, who, in a mad dash to meet the IRS deadline, make filing flubs that result in smaller refund checks or shelling out more to the government than they owe.
If you're among those last-minute filers, first, take a breath. Then take note of
eight common filing mistakes to avoid.
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Now that you've bought six extra months by filing an income tax extension, you might be wondering what you need to do between now and October 15, 2013 when your 2012 tax return is due. We've addressed some of the most common questions below.
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The Internal Revenue Service allows taxpayers to file for a six-month extension if they need more time to prepare their tax return. You can obtain a tax extension for any reason; the IRS grants them automatically as long as you complete the proper form on time. Check your state tax laws; some states accept IRS extensions while others require you to file a separate state extension form.
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The Internal Revenue Service recognizes the fact that members of the United States armed forces are often deployed outside of the U.S. at tax time and gives many military and support personnel an extension on their tax deadlines.
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