Tax Filing Wisdom - My List of Do's and Don'ts for 2024 Season

I've been filing taxes for over a decade now, and these are all solid points. I'd add one more: create a dedicated folder (physical or digital) for all your tax documents as they arrive. I used to scramble looking for W-2s and 1099s every April, but now I drop everything in a folder labeled "Tax Docs 2024" as soon as they arrive. Saved me hours of stress when I filed back in February. Also, if you're expecting a refund, file as early as possible - I submitted on January 29th this year and had my refund by February 12th.

OMG YES to all of this!!! I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to the IRS this year because my refund was delayed and I needed to verify something about my education credits. Kept getting disconnected or told the wait was 2+ hours 😭 Finally used Claimyr (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got through to an agent in like 15 minutes! They actually helped fix my issue and my refund was processed the next day. Best $20 I've ever spent when I was literally about to miss my rent payment waiting for this refund!

Your point about ID verification is crucial. I experienced a significant delay in 2023 because the IRS couldn't verify my identity. The Authentication Protocol requires certain verification parameters that many taxpayers aren't aware of until they encounter processing delays. Once I completed ID verification through ID.me, I gained immediate access to my transcripts and was able to monitor my refund status in real-time rather than relying on the limited WMR tool interface. The verification remains valid for multiple tax years, eliminating future authentication barriers.

I would probably add something about understanding your tax transcript, which can be sort of confusing at first. I was completely lost looking at all those codes until I found taxr.ai which basically translated everything into plain English. It was actually pretty helpful for figuring out why my refund was delayed and when I might expect it. The site basically explained what each code meant for my specific situation, which was way more useful than just Googling random three-digit numbers.

Be extremely cautious with tax preparers who calculate fees based on refund percentage. Last year, my sister paid $450 for a basic return with one W-2 and standard deduction because the preparer charged 10% of her refund. She didn't realize until after filing that she could have done it herself for free with IRS Free File. Additionally, that preparer incorrectly claimed education credits she wasn't eligible for, which resulted in an adjustment letter six months later requiring repayment with interest. Have you verified whether your current preparer has proper credentials? Many display PTIN numbers but lack actual certification.

Compared to using paid services like TurboTax or H&R Block, I've found that the IRS Free File program works just as well for most basic tax situations. Last year I paid $89 for TurboTax Deluxe, but this year I qualified for Free File (income under $73,000) and the experience was nearly identical but completely free. The interface isn't as polished as the paid options, but it asks all the same questions and handles all standard forms. I'm putting that saved money toward my student loan payment this month instead of padding some tax company's profits.