The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) Offers Tips for Avoiding Tax-Filing Errors

Simple mistakes on tax returns can result in processing delays and costly penalties. Thats why its important to examine your tax return thoroughly before you mail it.

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) offers other valuable resources to help reduce the worry and headaches associated with taxes. For example, TaxTalk provides a free online resource for personalized advice for all small-business owners, even those who are not NASE Members. In addition, TaxCentral gives NASE Members a one-stop online source for tax information including easy-to-use calculators to help figure estimated taxes along with convenient and secure online preparation and electronic filing of individual tax returns at significant savings.

The NASE offers these tips to help you avoid the most common tax filing errors:

1.   Review your Social Security number as well as those for your spouse and dependents. Its easy to transpose numbers or leave one out altogether.

2.   Be sure that the correct filing status and tax table were used.

3.   Check 1099 forms for accuracy and be sure they correspond with the amount listed on your return. If there are any inconsistencies, its your responsibility to resolve them.

4.   Claim the right number of dependent exemptions. You may claim a dependent exemption for children, parents, and other dependents that you support.

5.   Make sure there are no errors in computing any tax balance that is due or refund you are owed.

6.   Attach proper documentation in the right order. Form 1040 should be on top. Put the rest of the forms in order by the attachment sequence numbers, which are generally listed in the top right-hand corner of each form. Behind those come any other statements or unofficial documents you submit.

7.   Sign your return. Unsigned returns will be sent back to you and may be treated as if they have never been filed. As a result, you could be assessed a late-filing penalty and have your refund delayed.

The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is the nations leading resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, bringing a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs succeed and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy.

The NASE represents hundreds of thousands of the smallest businesses across the United States. The association -- which is a 501(c) (6) non-profit organization -- offers comprehensive benefits, services and discounts to give the smallest businesses big-business advantages. For more information, visit the Associations web site at http://www.nase.org.

For more detailed information about the affordable health insurance and small business benefits available for the self-employed, Contact Andy Jones or Amy Simms.