Gather, organize, and update tax records.
Organizing tax records makes it easier to prepare a complete and accurate tax return. It helps avoid errors that can slow down refunds and may also help find overlooked deductions or tax credits.
Most income is taxable, including unemployment compensation, refund interest and income from the gig economy and digital assets. Taxpayers should gather Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, 1099 Forms, Miscellaneous Information, and other income documents before filing their return.
Don’t forget to notify the IRS of an address change and be sure to notify the Social Security Administration of any legal name changes as soon as possible.
Speed refunds with direct deposit
Direct deposit is the fastest and safest way to get a tax refund. Taxpayers can make direct deposits to bank accounts, banking apps and reloadable debit cards, but will need to provide the routing and account information associated with the account. If the routing and account number cannot be located, taxpayers should contact their bank, financial institution, or app provider.
Taxpayers requesting a paper check are much more likely to report an issue getting their refund because of non-receipt, forgery, theft, or checks returned to a bad address, compared to taxpayers using direct deposit.