Biggest tax mistakes: Avoid making these this tax season or your return may be delayed

19. Failure to make a copy of signed return
It is important to make a copy of signed tax returns as many common types of loans, including mortgages and student loans, require past tax information.

18. Failure to double-check routing and account numbers
While this may seem obvious, it is one of the more common mistakes Americans make when filing their taxes.

17. Failure to include all necessary information on checks or money orders
If filers owe the IRS money and they aren’t filing electronically, they must include a payment that includes name, address, social security number, daytime telephone number, tax form, and the tax year on the payment.

16. Sending in return with inadequate postage
If you are not one of the majority of Americans who file their taxes electronically, make sure you have the correct postage on the envelope when you send in your taxes.

15. Sending your return to the wrong IRS office
There are different IRS office addresses for specific regions and types of tax documents.

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.

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claim retirement plans, pensions, and annuities withheld over the course of the year, or used to report funds that were withdrawn from an IRA.

12. Failure to include all W-2 forms
The IRS requires taxpayers to include an official copy of their W-2 forms from their employer or employers, if they have more than one job.

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.

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. 

9. Using incorrect column from the tax tables form
If you are calculating your own taxes, you will likely need to refer to the 1040 Tax Tables document to make the calculations.

8. Failing to claim the correct deduction if over 65 or blind
Those who are blind or over 65 are entitled to specific deductions, but filers must use a chart found on the 1040 or 1040A forms to determine the correct deduction.

7. Failure to enclose negative amounts in brackets
This common mistake can have potentially serious consequences.

6. Incorrectly calculating deductions and credits
Tax deductions, such as charitable donations, effectively reduce taxable income, while tax credits directly reduce taxes owed.

5. Entering income on the wrong lines
One simple and easily avoidable mistake that will certainly raise eyebrows at the IRS is income entered in the wrong box.

4. Failure to correctly list all dependents
Taxpayers must list all names and taxpayer identification numbers for each person listed on the return.

3. Failure to correctly declare exemptions
In order to benefit from spousal and dependency exemptions, the IRS requires certain information.

2. Choosing the incorrect filing status
Filing status is used to determine certain filing requirements, deductions, and credit eligibility.