State offers tips for last-minute tax filers

With the April 15 tax deadline looming, the Missouri Department of Revenue has plenty of tips to help taxpayers avoid some of the most common mistakes.

"With the clock ticking and the deadline being so close, I’m sure some people are hurrying to finish this year’s tax return,” DOR Director Alana M. Barragán-Scott said in a news release.

It’s important to make sure forms are filled out correctly, she added, as incomplete or inaccurate returns can slow down processing.

One of the most common mistakes, according to Barragán-Scott, is not signing returns, while another is not submitting necessary documentation such as W-2 forms or interest and dividend statements from financial institutions.

She also advises filers to make sure their Social Security numbers and bank account information are correct, as well as to enter the correct standard deduction based on their filing status.

If returns are going to be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service, Barragán-Scott suggests calling to find out which branches will be open late April 15 to accept returns, which must be postmarked by that date to meet the deadline.

Missouri automatically grants filing extensions to taxpayers who file for a federal extension, if a payment to the state is not expected, the release said. Those extensions are good until Oct. 15, the release said, but they don’t extend the time for payment of any taxes due, so taxpayers who file extensions but don’t pay the tax in full by the due date may be subject to penalties.