Taxes not done? Don’t panic but get started

OK, procrastinators, here’s a friendly reminder: Time is running out. Midnight Tuesday is the deadline for filing your federal tax returns.

The good news: With very few tax changes for 2013, there aren’t any big head-scratchers to sort out this year. That’s a big change from a year ago, when the tax-filing season was delayed by a flurry of last-minute tax-law changes enacted by Congress.

But that doesn’t mean you can coast entirely this year. It’s still easy to trip yourself up with math errors, filing mistakes or even forgetting to report your fantasy football winnings.

Here are some last-minute items worth noting:

Don’t panic, but do file: “A lot of people panic this time of year,” said California Franchise Tax Board spokeswoman Denise Azimi, either because they can’t pay what they think they owe or don’t have all their paperwork together.

If that’s you, don’t avoid the April 15 deadline. You’re better off filing the return on time and paying what you can, then waiting 30 days for a billing notice with the exact amount of tax due. “You can then get on a payment plan and pay it off over time,” said Azimi. “It’ll save you a lot of headaches and money down the road.”

If you don’t file, you could be subject to penalties and interest, which can only add to your tax burden. Monthly installment plans, with a one-time startup fee, are offered by the Internal Revenue Service.

Avoid the easy errors: One of the biggest mistakes, especially for those filing a paper return, is basic math. Double-check everything before you file.

If you’re filing an electronic form — and more than 80 percent of taxpayers now e-file their returns — the math is done for you. But you can still make errors by inputting the wrong Social Security number or tax-filing status (married, head of household, filing jointly, etc.) or by mistyping your bank routing number for direct deposit of a refund.

Another common error is misstating what you paid last year in estimated tax payments.

And above all, don’t forget to sign and date your return.

Don’t overlook tax credits: When filing, be sure to look for state or federal tax credits that might apply, such as home energy-efficiency improvements, college costs, child care expenses and charitable donations. One of the commonly overlooked credits is the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, known as the EITC. Designed to help low-income working adults, it’s a refundable credit, so even if you don’t owe taxes, you could still get money back in your pocket.

It’s based on income and family size, but can be as much as $6,000. Generally, your 2013 earned income must be below $51,567 for couples filing jointly with three children or less than $14,340 for a single with no children. To see if you qualify, search for the “EITC Assistant” tool on the IRS.gov website. The average credit last year was $2,300, according to the IRS

Fantasy football income? Another source of tax return errors is not reporting all your income, even from that online fantasy football league.

“If you don’t report the income, you can expect to hear from the IRS,” Sandra Block, senior associate editor with Kiplinger personal finance magazine, said in an email. If you received a Form 1099-MISC for casino winnings or a Form 1099-DIV for dividends, for instance, be assured that the IRS received a copy, too.

“The IRS views fantasy football in the same way it views gambling and lottery winnings, which are also taxable,” said Block. “Even if you find buried treasure in your back yard — as happened to a couple in Northern California last year — the found property is taxable at its fair market value.”

And she wryly noted: Stolen property is also considered taxable, but “it’s unlikely that most criminals report it.”

Think twice on refunds: Many relish getting that refund. But personal finance advisers say that’s not necessarily a good thing.

“As much as people love getting a big check from the IRS, it’s not good money management,” said Kiplinger’s Block. “By adjusting your withholding, you can give yourself an automatic raise and use the money to pay off debt or increase your retirement savings.” She recommends asking your employer to adjust your W-4 form, so you’ll immediately get more take-home pay that can be allotted to savings or debts.

And she noted, being owed a refund can make you vulnerable to fraud caused by identity theft, which has been a nagging problem for the IRS. In recent years, thousands of taxpayers have discovered that someone else, using stolen Social Security or other data, has filed a tax return in their name, stealing their tax refund. As part of a beefed-up enforcement effort, the IRS said last week that it prevented $17.8 billion in refund-fraud attempts in 2013, obtaining more than 1,000 indictments and 400 convictions of tax return fraudsters.

Ask for help: With the tax-filing deadline just days away, don’t despair. Sharpen those pencils or, better yet, hit the computer keyboard, pick up the phone or seek out free tax-preparation help that’s still available through April 15.

Last-minute help

Internal Revenue Service: Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 or go online to: www.irs.gov. The IRS has dozens of tax-filing videos on YouTube and a free mobile app — IRS2Go — for iPhone and Android phones.

VITA/TCE sites: Get free tax-preparation help through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs, held at various community locations (libraries, schools, churches, etc.) in every county. Volunteers answer questions and will help file returns, primarily for those with incomes below $52,000, the disabled and those over 60. Search IRS.gov by ZIP code to find the nearest locations, including those with bilingual help in Cantonese, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese and other languages.

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