19 Mistakes the IRS Says Filers Must Avoid

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14. Arranging tax documents in the incorrect order

Errors on your tax return, including something as simple as failure to organize documents in sequential order, can result in a delayed refund.

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13. Failing to attach 1099-R forms

1099-R forms are used to claim retirement plans, pensions, and annuities withheld over the course of the year, or when funds are withdrawn from an IRA. Some of these funds can be treated as income, bumping filers into a higher bracket. Failing to report these payments can result in an audit.

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12. Failure to include all W-2 forms

The IRS requires taxpayers to include an official copy of their W-2 from their employer or employers, if they have more than one job. Wages and withholdings noted on these forms must be combined and reported on the tax return.

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11. Failure to use Identity Protection PIN (if applicable)

An IP PIN is a six-digit number assigned to eligible taxpayers to help protect against fraudulent use of their social security number. Eligible IP PIN taxpayers include those who were invited by the IRS and those who filed a tax return with an address in Florida, Georgia, and the District of Columbia last year. While not everyone has been issued an IP PIN, those who have must follow separate tax filing instructions specific to IP PIN holders.

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10. Failing to sign and date return

One of the simplest and most important steps while filing is signing and dating the return, and have your spouse sign and date if you are filing jointly. Unsigned and undated returns cannot be accepted and will be sent back for signing.