6 Crucial Steps Before You Submit Your Taxes

taxes

Submitting your taxes doesn’t have to feel like a last-minute scramble. A little preparation can save you money, reduce stress, and help you avoid costly mistakes. Before you hit “submit” or send your return to your CPA, take time to walk through these six important steps.

1. Review Last Year’s Return

Start by pulling out last year’s tax return. It’s one of the best roadmaps for this year.

Look for income sources, deductions, credits, or forms that applied previously. Did you have freelance income? Investment accounts? Education credits? If something applied last year, there’s a good chance it could apply again.

Comparing this year’s return to last year’s can also help you catch missing information. If you claimed mortgage interest last year but don’t see a Form 1098 this year, that’s a red flag worth investigating.

2. Confirm All Income Is Accounted For

The IRS receives copies of your income forms. That means they know what was reported, even if you forget to include it.

Make sure you have:

All W-2 forms from employers
1099 forms for freelance or contract work
1099-INT and 1099-DIV forms for bank accounts and investments
1099-R forms for retirement distributions

If you earned money from side work, online sales, or gig platforms, confirm those amounts are included. Even small omissions can trigger notices later.

Taking a few extra minutes now can prevent months of back-and-forth correspondence.

3. Double-Check Personal Information

It sounds simple, but mistakes here can delay your refund or cause your return to be rejected.

Verify:

Social Security numbers for everyone listed
Spelling of names
Current mailing address
Direct deposit information

If you’ve had a life change—marriage, divorce, a new child, or a dependent change—ensure everything is updated correctly. Filing status matters, and claiming a dependent incorrectly can cause issues.

Accuracy here is critical.

4. Look for Missed Deductions and Credits

Many taxpayers leave money on the table because they rush the process.

Ask yourself:

Did I make charitable contributions?
Did I contribute to an IRA or HSA?
Did I pay student loan interest?
Did I have significant medical expenses?

You may also qualify for credits like the Child Tax Credit, education credits, or energy-efficiency credits.

If you’re self-employed, review business expenses carefully. Mileage, home office expenses, software subscriptions, and professional services may be deductible.

A careful review can make a meaningful difference in your final tax bill.

5. Check for Errors. Then, Check Again

Before submitting, go through your return line by line.

Look for:

Math errors
Missing forms
Incorrect bank account numbers
Incorrect tax withholding entries

Tax software often catches calculation mistakes, but it can’t catch everything—especially if incorrect data was entered.

If possible, step away for a few hours and review it with fresh eyes. Better yet, have a trusted professional or financially savvy friend give it a quick look.

A second set of eyes can be invaluable.

6. Make a Plan for What Comes Next

Submitting your taxes shouldn’t be the end of your financial thinking. It should inform it.

If you’re getting a refund, decide in advance what you’ll do with it. Will you:

Pay down debt?
Build your emergency fund?
Invest for the future?
Give more to your church or a Kingdom-advancing non-profit.

If you owe money, take note of why. Were you under-withholding? Did self-employment taxes surprise you? This is an opportunity to adjust your tax withholding or estimated payments for the coming year.

Taxes provide insight into your overall financial health. Use that information wisely.

Filing your taxes is more than an annual obligation; it’s a financial checkpoint. Taking time to review, verify, and plan before submitting can help you avoid mistakes, maximize benefits, and move forward with confidence.

Slow down. Double-check. Then submit with peace of mind.