Were Accountants. Here Are 6 Things Wed Never Do When Filing Taxes.

d3sign via Getty Images Taxes can be incredibly confusing, expensive and frustrating, leading to a series of errors.Tax season has rolled around once again, and so has the inevitable dread that comes with it.It’s understandable that a lot of us worry we’ll make one small, accidental mistake and then get in “big trouble” with the IRS after. When it comes to something as complicated and serious as taxes, it’s sometimes hard to feel confident that you’re doing it right.Enter accountants. Their entire job is to make sure their clients’ taxes ― and their own taxes ― are all squared away and mistake free. That’s why we asked them to share what they personally would never do (and warn others from doing) when filing. Steal their secrets below as you work on yours:Advertisement1. They would never file without being sure all documents are in.For one, this means reporting all of your income, no matter how small.“If I were to file my tax return without reporting some income that was reported to me on my tax return, the IRS would likely catch it, calculate what my taxes should have been had I reported that income — often without giving me any credit for legitimate deductions or basis against that income — and send me a CP2000 notice,” said Logan Allec, a CPA and the owner of tax relief company Choice Tax Relief.He added that CP2000 notices are a pain to deal with and “might even propose to assess a substantial understatement penalty, which can be quite large.”AdvertisementDocumentation regards more than just income, too. To figure out what documents you specifically need to file, check out an individualized tax document checklist. For example, you may have extra documentation if you have dependents, student loans and more.Additionally, Allec suggested the following:Making a list of all the tax documents used to prepare the previous year’s returnRecalling any new accounts opened, or new sources of income to add to the

listAlternatively, another approach is to pull the wage and income transcript for the year directly from the IRS, he said, which shows all the tax documents that were issued to you that year.“However, since wage and income transcripts for last year typically aren’t ready until late spring or summer of the current year, I would have to file an extension of time to file and also ensure that I had paid in all the taxes I owe for last year (or my best estimate of this amount) by the original deadline,” he continued.2. They wouldn’t rush to file instead of filing for an extension.It

’s indeed OK to ask for an extension if needed, according to Victoria Rothbauer, a CPA and member experience manager at Collective, a back office platform for entrepreneurs.“An extension is just a tool to help relieve stress and ensure taxes are accurate,” she said. “They are free to file and, contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t raise red flags if you file an extension.” (You can file for an extension on the IRS website.)Further, rushing increases the risk of making a mistake, she continued, and extra time can be used to research tax deductions and make retirement contributions, which lower your taxable income.Advertisement“Just keep in mind an extension gives you more time to file your taxes, not pay them,” she said. Paying late can result in extra fees.3. They wouldn’t file without understanding the rules behind tax deductions.Don’t write off items without doing your due diligence. “There’s a lot of bad advice out there promoting overly aggressive tax strategies without fully explaining the rules or requirements to take advantage of these deductions,” Allec said.“A common one is using bonus depreciation to write off the majority of the cost of a new car against your business income this year,” he continued. That’s not automatically illegitimate, he said, just one to be careful about since the rules and requirements are complex.“If you don’t want to spend the time researching the rules yourself, hire a tax professional to do your taxes for you,” he recommended. “The cost of doing so will be much less than the cost of hiring a professional to defend you in an IRS audit.”Ekaterina Goncharova via Getty Images Working for yourself can come with a lot of freedom — and complicated taxes.Advertisement4. They wouldn’t deduct a business expense for something that isn’t 100% part of their business.Rothbauer also stressed that it’s best to understand what counts (and doesn’t count) as a tax deduction. “There are several deductions available to people who work for themselves, but the IRS maintains that anything deducted needs to be exclusively used for business,” she said.The rules around that are fairly strict, too. She recalled clients asking about emotional support animals, exercise bikes in the home office, event tickets for wooing new clients, home office space used to entertain gu