Taxpayers beware: filing deadline looms

 GREENVILLE, NC (WNCT) – It’s crunch time for many taxpayers, as the tax filing deadline is right around the corner.

This year, the deadline was pushed back from the traditional April 15 date due to a holiday. Monday, April 18 is the 2016 deadline.

Many CPAs warn taxpayers to take their time when filling out the forms, especially if they waited to the last minute.

“You transpose numbers, you forget something, you forget something that you should have reported,” said Robbie Rice, CPA at Carr, Riggs, and Ingram. “And most of that is because of waiting to the last minute, rushing through it.”

One of the biggest mistakes taxpayers can make is not taking advantage of deduction credits on their personal tax return. But be careful to not make false claims.

Another common error is choosing the wrong filing status. Filling out the incorrect status could lead to a rejected or delayed return.

If you’re too overwhelmed, have no fear; you can still apply for an extension to avoid a late filing penalty. Keep in mind it’s an extension of time to file your return, not an extension to pay tax owed.