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HEADS UP!! The April 15th tax deadline is just days away. Whether you’re filing on your own or with a professional, a quick last-minute review of your return can prevent costly mistakes, missed deductions, and unwanted IRS notices. Here are seven checks every individual filer should make before hitting “submit,” or dropping your 2025 return at the post office counter.
Yes, I said drop at the counter INSIDE the post office…more on that later.
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퓁 The 7 Checks…clean and quick
1. Confirm Your Personal Information Is Correct
Double-check your name, Social Security number, and address on your tax return. A typo here is one of the most common triggers for IRS processing delays.
2. Verify All Income Is Reported
Review every IRS Form W-2, 1099, and K-1 you received. The IRS receives copies of these forms too — any discrepancy between what you report and what they have on file can trigger an audit. And as I covered in recent editions of this newsletter, don’t forget any winnings in excess of losses from gambling or for the student athletes in your household, income from name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation.
3. Claim Every Deduction and Credit You’re Entitled To
Did you contribute to a retirement account, pay student loan interest, or have qualifying childcare expenses? These are commonly missed. The Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Credit, and education credits are worth reviewing before you file.
4. Review Your Filing Status
Life changes — marriage, divorce, the birth of a child — can affect your optimal filing status. Filing as “Head of Household” instead of “Single,” for example, can mean a meaningfully lower tax bill.
5. Confirm Your Bank Account Details for Direct Deposit
Expecting a refund? Make sure your bank’s routing number and your account number are entered correctly. An error here means your refund could be delayed by weeks or sent to the wrong account.
All of these points are perfect when you have money coming back. Chances are you filed early and have your refund in hand. According to reporting this past Monday by Kate Dore of CNBC, the average refund is up about 10% this year from the same date last year1.
However, if that’s NOT you, don’t end up like this guy:
This image generated by AI.
This is the dreaded pink envelope reserved for formal communication of IRS intent to recover a debt. Don’t ask me how I know.
6. Check If You Owe — And Plan Accordingly
If you owe taxes, payment is also due by April 15th — even if you file an extension. The IRS offers payment plans if you can’t pay in full. Acting now avoids additional penalties and interest. And yes, they ask you to place your social security number (and that of your spouse if married filing jointly) on the check or money order.
The IRS uses taxpayer identification number (TIN) technology, and information from banking institutions to match your payment medium with your tax return, and is expanding its tech tools to enhance privacy protection of personal identification information (PII)2.
7. Consider Filing an Extension If You’re Not Ready
Need more time? Filing Form 4868 by April 15th gives you until October 15th to submit your return. The preceding link is in English, this one is in Spanish. Remember: an extension to file is not an extension to pay any tax owed.
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FINALLY: What should I do to make sure I have filed on time?
Effective December 24, 2025, the United States Postal Service (USPS) enacted a final rule that revises how postmarks are defined and treated by adding section 608.11, “Postmarks and Postal Possession,” to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)3. This new section defines postmarks, and identifies the types of Postal Service markings that qualify as postmarks.
According to the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service and its National Taxpayer Advocate (NTA) Blog4:
Go inside the post office to a USPS counter, and take one of the following actions (with a smile 🙂):
Request a manual postmark — When specifically requested, the USPS will provide a manual postmark at no additional charge. Since the manual postmark is stamped on receipt of your mail piece, the date of the stamp is consistent with the drop-off date.
Certified Mail [for a fee];
Registered Mail [for a fee]; or
Postage Validation Imprint (special marking indicating postage paid and date accepted).
These options provide proof of the mailing, which can protect you if there’s ever a question about whether you filed on time.
There’s the scoop, everyone! A few extra minutes of review now can save you significant time, money, and stress later.
Thank you so much for your readership and continuing support through the tax season!
DISCLAIMER: The information in this newsletter is derived from public information, provided for educational purposes. It is not provided as a financial advisory service and should not be relied upon as such. For advice on a specific tax matter, please consult a tax professional.
References (4):
1 Dore, Kate “Average tax refund is up $350 compared to last year as IRS deadline approaches,” CNBC.com, April 6, 2026, accessed April 9, 2026.
2 Internal Revenue Service, “What Are We Doing To Protect Taxpayer Privacy?,” last updated February 11, 2026, accessed April 11, 2026.
3 “Postmarks and Postal Possession,” U.S. Postal Service, 90 Fed. Reg. 52883, published November 24, 2025, accessed April 9, 2026.
4 “New U.S. Postal Service Rules Could Affect Whether Your Tax Filing Is Considered On Time,” Internal Revenue Service, Taxpayer Advocate Service, NTA Blog, April 8, 2026, update April 9, 2026. Accessed April 9, 2026.