From miscalculations to forgetting critical information, the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) sees common mistakes each year when filing their individual income tax returns. These errors can lead to delays in processing, meaning taxpayers have to wait longer to receive their return.

As a starting point, filing a paper return opens up the possibility of many issues which can be avoided by e-filing a return. Filing electronically is easier, faster, more accurate, and more secure than filing by paper. ADOR also recommends opting to receive your return via Direct Deposit.

Here are the top ten mistakes taxpayers make when filing individual income tax returns:

1. Mistake in Tax Credit Codes: Use correct Qualifying Charity and Foster Care Organization Codes on Forms 321 and 352, Public School CTDS Codes on Form 322, or School Tuition Organization Codes on Form 323.
2. Differing Filing Status: Match the filing status information throughout the return. If filing married separately or jointly, include spouse information in the same order as last year (if applicable), and leave empty if filing as single or head of household. Compute deductions and tax tables based on filing status.
3. Error in Dependents and Exemptions: Provide the social security number (SSN) in the dependent information, qualifying parents and grandparents section, or exemption section. Complete all the fields that match the claims entered with SSN, relationships, amounts, and applicable checkboxes.
4. Multiple Returns Per SSN: A return can only be filed once for a Social Security Number (SSN) per year, which means if an individual filed as married filing jointly, they cannot also file as married filing separately or head of household. If a person suspects being a victim of tax-related identity theft, Arizona Department of Revenue strongly encourages notifying its Identity Theft Call Center.
5. Absent Tax Credit and Recapture Credit Form: Complete and include Form 301 with the return and match the information from Form 301, Part 1 and Part 2, with the return. Include Form 301 and the corresponding credit form(s) used to compute credit(s) with the individual income tax return.
6. Miscalculation: It is common to miscalculate amounts when doing taxes on your own. Check to ensure adjustments, deduction amounts, income amounts, percentages, and other calculations equal the correct amount.
7. Missing Return Information: Sending incomplete returns makes it difficult, if not impossible, to process. A return must be completed in its entirety and with accuracy for ADOR to process; include essential items like full name, taxpayer identification number, address, and filing status.
8. Different Tax Year Forms: Only use individual income tax year forms and supporting documents with the same tax year, and never cross out the tax year and mark another tax year. Submit all the same individual income tax year forms together.
9. Interpreting in Handwriting: ADOR does its best to decipher taxpayers’ handwriting, but it can be challenging. If filing a paper return, use fillable forms and print with black ink and on white paper; this way, ADOR staff does not have to interpret handwriting.
10. Sending Items to the Correct Agency: Submitting an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) return, payment, or correspondence to the Arizona Department of Revenue will not be processed by ADOR. Make sure to send the ADOR payment with the state return to the correct ADOR P.O. Box and the IRS payment with the federal return to the IRS address.

If choosing to pay tax due by a paper check, remember to provide all the information on the paper check; accurate address, pay to, amount, memo, signature. Ensure the paper check contains the written amount on the amount line and amount box, along with the tax identification numbers and tax period on the check memo line. When sending a payment, ensure it is sent with the original tax return or a payment voucher so it can be applied to the correct account and tax period promptly. If a payment is sent in without a corresponding tax return or payment voucher, ADOR must research which account it belongs to and the payment will likely be delayed.

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