Your tax preparer sends a return for approval. You look at the refund or balance due, recognize a few numbers and reach for the signature button.
Before signing, take time to understand what is being filed. You do not need to verify every calculation yourself. A focused review can help you identify missing information, ask useful questions and confirm the instructions for filing and payment.
The IRS reminds taxpayers that they remain accountable for the accuracy of their returns even when a paid preparer handles the work. Reviewing the return is part of that responsibility. IRS guidance on working with a tax preparer.
Start with the people and the year
Confirm the tax year, your name, address and identifying information. If the return includes a spouse or dependents, check their information as well.
Ask about the filing status if you are unsure why it was selected. A change in family circumstances can make this especially important. You do not need to guess which status applies; describe the facts and ask the preparer to explain the treatment.
Also confirm that you are reviewing the complete return intended for filing, including applicable state returns, rather than an earlier draft or only a signature authorization.
Compare the income with your records
Think about your income sources for the year. Did you change jobs, receive income from a side business, sell investments or receive a retirement distribution? Does the preparer have the relevant documents and explanations?
Do not expect every document total to appear unchanged on one line of the return. Different items can be combined or reported on supporting schedules. If you cannot tell where something was included, ask.
If a new or corrected document arrives while you are reviewing the return, send it to your preparer before authorizing filing. Let them determine whether it changes the work rather than assuming the difference is too small to matter.
Understand the major changes from last year
A larger refund does not necessarily mean you paid less tax. A balance due does not, by itself, mean the return was prepared incorrectly. The result reflects both the tax calculated and the payments and credits applied.
Ask which changes explain the difference. Did income change? Were withholding or estimated payments different? Did a deduction or credit change?
The purpose is to understand your return, not to make the refund match last year’s. A useful explanation should connect the result to your circumstances in language you can follow.
Check payments and refund instructions
Tell your preparer about estimated tax payments and payments made with an extension, and provide the relevant records. Confirm how those payments were reflected on the return.
If a refund will be deposited into your bank account, carefully check the routing and account information. If you owe tax, ask how the payment will be made, the amount and the date. Federal and state payment arrangements may be separate.
Do not assume that signing an electronic filing authorization also schedules every payment. Ask what has actually been arranged and what you still need to do. If you plan to make a payment yourself, make that clear so it is not also scheduled through another method.
Resolve questions before authorizing filing
You should feel comfortable asking why an item appears on your return or whether information has been included. If an answer leads to a correction, review the updated version before signing.
After filing, keep your final return and the relevant filing and payment records. Ask how you will receive confirmation that electronically submitted returns were accepted. Submission, acceptance and payment are separate matters; knowing their status helps you avoid relying on assumptions.
Know what is being filed
At Go Tax Dude, we prepare your return, explain the results in plain English and answer your questions before you authorize filing. For business owners, that includes helping you understand how the business and personal returns fit together when we handle both.
We offer individual tax preparation and business tax preparation from our Port Washington office, with phone appointments and secure online document sharing available. Book a consultation to discuss the services you need.