Even though tax season comes every year, it is usually always met with groans across Florida. Some taxpayers want to get the process over with as quickly as possible, which can lead to mistakes.
GOBankingRates describes how a person can commit tax fraud out of negligence rather than purposeful intent. Despite how the fraud was committed, it is still fraud, and still something to avoid.
Incorrectly claimed tax credit
Some people claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, aimed at those who earn a low-to-moderate amount, when they do not qualify for it. What happens is that a person may forget about the amount of her or his investment income. Also, just because a taxpayer qualifies one year does not automatically mean she or he qualifies every year after that.
Inaccurate or missing information
Another simple mistake that may lead to tax fraud is including missing or incorrect information. To avoid this, it is best to turn to a professional accountant or trusted tax preparation software. Depending on the outcome, the IRS could view omitted or inaccurate information as willful tax fraud, which comes with penalties and/or imprisonment.
Failing to report income
HuffPost points out that another form of accidental tax fraud is not reporting all earned income. Taxpayers sometimes accidentally leave earned income off their taxes because they forgot about income earned through a side gig or independent contractor work.
Claiming improper deductions
Self-employed individuals and business owners may deduct business expenses that do not qualify for a deduction. For instance, flying to visit friends and claiming it as a business expense is not how job-related expense deductions work. Accountants and tax preparation programs can help avoid this type of accidental fraud.
Keeping proper records also helps sidestep accidental fraud. Taxpayers should have a tax pro look over their taxes before submitting them to the IRS.