The Internal Revenue Service warns individuals about common mistakes made in preparing their returns that may result in additional tax, interest and penalties or delays in processing their returns and receiving refunds.

These mistakes include:

• Choosing the wrong filing status (i.e., single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household, qualifying widow/widower with dependent child).
• Failing to include or using incorrect Social Security numbers (required for the taxpayer, spouse, dependents, and qualifying children for the earned income credit or child tax credit).
• Failing to use the correct forms and schedules.
• Failing to sign and date the return (both spouses must sign for a joint return).
• Claiming ineligible dependents.
• Failing to file for the earned income credit (many military families may qualify because they can treat excluded combat zone pay as earned income).
• Improperly claiming the earned income credit when a taxpayers does not have earned income.
• Failing to check liability for the alternative minimum tax.(AMT).
• Failing to request the one-time federal telephone excise tax refund.
• Failing to enter the correct amount of taxable Social Security benefits.
• Mailing the return to the wrong address.